
Class _Xj4-Z^5_ 

Book J^C 

Copyright N°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



TWO YEARS IN A GROWING 
PRAYER MEETING 



BY REV. W. F. LLOYD, D.D. 

Of the Louisville Conference ', Methodist Episcopal Church , South 



Nashville, Tknn.; Dallas, Tex.: 

Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South. 

Smith & Lamar, Agents. 

1907. 






RlfittARY of CONGRESS 
Iwu Cooies Received 

OCT 14 1901 
Gopyruem Ertry 

CU&S A XXc, No. 

tS7f<3 

COPY 6. 



Copyrighted, 1907 

BY 

Smith & Lamar 



FOREWORD. 

This little book is respectfully commended to the 
younger men in the pastorate into whose hands it 
may fall. My reasons for writing are set forth in 
the first chapter — "My Apology/' The chapter, 
"Feeling My Way for Three Months/' will perhaps 
prove the least interesting part of the book. Begin- 
ning with that chapter, the book is a record of actual 
experiences, topics, Scripture lessons, and difficulties 
during two years, showing how hindrances were en- 
countered and overcome, and how the prayer meeting 
steadily grew. For this reason, this particular chapter 
should not be omitted by the reader. The later chap- 
ters record and amplify a class of topics and Scripture 
lessons which in my judgment should have a place in 
a normal prayer meeting. The Author. 

(3) 



CONTENTS. 

*■ PAGE 

My Apology 7 

II. 

The Preacher's Estimate 10 

III. 

Getting Ready 13 

IV. 
The Leader 17 

V. 
Who Should Pray ? 20 

VI. 
Securing an Attendance 24 

VII. 
Some Overlooked Points 31 

VIII. 

Feeling My Way for Three Months 36 

IX. 
Ministering to Recognized Needs 48 

X. 
Six Months of Growth 78 

XI. 
Continued Growth 95 

(5) 



TWO YEARS IN A GROWING 
PRAYER MEETING. 

i. 

My Apology. 

Can anything new or of additional help be said 
about the prayer meeting ? It seems like presumption, 
not to say folly, for any one to add a word on this 
subject, much less one who is unknown beyond a 
limited circle, and whose name is not sufficiently 
known to justify the expectation of an audience. 

All this makes it painful to attempt to write on this 
subject; and but for an impression that has been grow- 
ing for years that God has given me a little message 
to carry, and that he will find the audience whom he 
wishes to hear the message, I would not venture a 
word. 

Modestly, I may say that God has given me some 
fair measure of success in building up and maintain- 
ing a prayer meeting. This has been the invariable 
rule in all my pastorates. I think he has led me to 
see the very great importance of the prayer meeting, 
and has given me some skill in drawing people to at- 
tend, and in the profitable conduct of such meetings. 
Then, as I have gotten many a valuable suggestion 
from others, is it not my duty to offer whatever I may 
have learned for the help of my younger brethren in 
the ministry? 

(7) 



8 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

This discussion of the prayer meeting will probably 
be different from others that have gone before. My 
thought has been that the best possible way to help 
young pastors in the conduct of their prayer meetings 
would be to give in detail the subjects, Scripture les- 
sons, and outline of talks, through two years, just 
as they occurred week after week. In this method 
there will be seen not only the subjects used, but 
incidentally will appear the hindrances and difficulties 
that come up from time to time, as also how these 
things were overcome. 

The subjects and details of discussions shown in 
these pages are not offered with the thought that any 
one will use them, or will desire to. They are simply 
given because they illustrate my ideas of the class of 
subjects that are appropriate for the prayer meeting, 
and in that way may be of some use to my younger 
brethren of the ministry. 

In making this presentation I have selected the 
topics used in a certain pastorate of mine, the name of 
which I do not give. But the topics and Scriptures 
were all used in the order in which they occur. 

When appointed to this particular pastorate, while 
inquiring of my predecessor of various matters con- 
nected with the charge, I said: "How are the prayer 
meetings attended?" He answered: "About a hun- 
dred." I immediately congratulated myself on the 
prospect. But alas ! I suppose the brother had never 
counted. The people told me that the prayer meet- 
ings, during my pastorate, were more than double in 
attendance what they had formerly been, and yet only 
once or twice were there as many as one hundred 



My apology. 9 

present. I have chosen this particular pastorate be- 
cause it was the most difficult one that I have ever 
had in which to build and maintain a successful 
prayer meeting. 

This weekly record of attendance and possibly some 
of the subjects and discussions will reveal to the read- 
er the uphill work we had. Notwithstanding the diffi- 
culties, a good degree of success crowned our efforts. 
During the first six months of that pastorate the aver- 
age attendance on prayer meeting was fifty, during 
the second six months it averaged sixty-seven, during 
the third half year it was seventy-one, while for the 
fourth it was seventy-five. 

This may not seem a large attendance. That is 
true ; but it is larger, perhaps, than found in nine-tenths 
of our Churches. Most pastors guess at the number 
in their congregations. What is more, they are not 
good guessers. By this guessing process congrega- 
tions are generally estimated twice as large as when 
counted. I have made it a rule for years to count my 
prayer meeting congregation. This enables me to 
know whether we are gaining or decreasing in attend- 
ance, and prevents the false comfort which I would 
receive from an imaginary number, one-third or one- 
half of whom were not present. 



II. 

THE PREACHER'S ESTIMATE. 

In what estimate does the pastor hold his own 
prayer meeting? The size and quality of this service 
will almost inevitably depend on its rank in his own 
mind. If he considers it as simply a routine service 
of the Church, to be attended once a week, like the 
officers of a fraternal insurance association have to 
hold a meeting at stated intervals to prevent for- 
feiture of the charter, he will most certainly have a 
poor prayer meeting. The pastor cannot impress 
other people with the value of something that he does 
not see himself. 

On the other hand, if the prayer meeting bulks in 
the pastor's mind and heart, if he thinks about it, 
prays about it, talks about it in his pastoral visiting, 
frequently speaks of it in public — above all, if he really 
feels the need of it for himself and his people — then 
they will get a corresponding idea of its importance, 
and will begin to attend. 

There are many things that have been said about 
the value of the prayer meeting that sound like mere 
platitudes to many pastors, and they get so tired of 
them that they refuse to read them or heed them. 
Nevertheless, those same platitudes are true; they 
are more than platitudes; they are the coinage of ex- 
perience, the garnered wisdom of years, and he who 
disregards them simply shows his incapacity for rec- 

(IO) 



The preacher's estimate. ii 

ognizing and utilizing the most valuable service of 
his Church. 

Some one has said that the prayer meeting is the 
thermometer of the Church, the hfeat register, by 
which you can tell how much of spiritual life is in 
the Church. This, of course, is true; but I believe 
it was Mr. Moody who gave what I consider a much 
better description of the prayer meeting. He said 
that it is the furnace room of the Church; not simply 
the place where the heat is measured, but where it is 
generated. This witness is true. The prayer meet- 
ing is down below every other service and society in 
the Church. If it is emphasized and made a success, 
the other services and societies in the Church will 
likely prosper; or if for certain reasons they do not 
all prosper, the vigorous prayer meeting will pull ev- 
erything after it and sustain the other services and 
societies that would perhaps utterly collapse without 
this support. On the other hand, the Sunday morn- 
ing preaching service may be well attended, and the 
societies of the Church may appear to be doing well 
so far as numbers and show are concerned ; but if the 
prayer meeting is sickly, and lives only "at a poor 
dying rate," you may set it down that there will not 
be much permanence about the fair show of the other 
services of the Church. 

A Church with a poor prayer meeting will soon 
have a diminishing congregation at the preaching of 
the word, the various societies among the women will 
languish, the Sunday school will sooner or later drag, 
and, though the people may not get a change in pas- 
tors, they will surely want it and feel its need. A 



t2 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

full and vigorous prayer meeting has such a fine ef- 
fect upon -every other service and society of the 
Church that a congregation does not have the heart 
to ask for a change of pastor, even though the one 
they have may be painfully deficient in pulpit ability. 
A good prayer meeting, like love, "hides a multitude" 
of pastoral faults. A congregation has a sort of in- 
stinctive realization of when a Church is doing well, 
and even the worldly ones do not like to take the 
risk of seeking a change. 

Thus God has linked the successful conduct of the 
most necessary service of the Church to the duration 
of the pastoral term, as though in appealing to the 
natural desire on the part of the pastor for a long 
term of service he would thus make it doubly impor- 
tant to develop and maintain a vigorous prayer meet- 
ing. 

The pastor should magnify his prayer meeting and 
seek to get a large attendance, because he needs the 
opportunity thus given to counsel and instruct his 
people. There are many duties and many phases of 
Christian experience that the pastor cannot possibly 
have time or occasion to mention in the pulpit, even 
though he preach twice on Sunday. Yet these things 
are very much needed, and the people will suffer with- 
out them. There is no place so suitable for this in- 
struction as the prayer meeting. Let it accordingly 
be emphasized by the pulpit and pew. 



IIL 
GETTING READY. 

"Anything that is worth doing at all is worth 
doing well/' The best security against a poor prayer 
meeting is thorough and wise preparation upon the 
part of the leader — the pastor. Too many have the 
idea that just anything will do for the prayer meeting. 
There is a vast difference between "saying something'* 
and having "something to say." The people are very 
sure to set no higher estimate on the prayer meeting 
than the pastor does, and they will judge his estimate 
of the service by the degree of preparation which he 
makes for it and which is invariably reveaLed in his 
talk or address. 

The wise pastor will prepare as carefully for his 
Wednesday night service as for his Sunday morning 
sermon. I do not mean that the preparation will be 
as elaborate or the theme as stately and as fully dis- 
cussed, but that in his own mind the service will have 
approximately the same rank, and he will strive just 
as earnestly to be ready with a brief address suitable 
for a prayer meeting as he does to be ready on Sun- 
day morning with a sermon suitable for that occasion. 
And let all remember that prayer meeting talks that 
are worth hearing are not picked up on the way to 
the service. They do not grow on trees nor lie about 
loose on the sidewalks. 

Moreover, helpful prayer meeting addresses are not 
simply short sermons. A sermon is one thing, a wise 

03) 



14 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

prayer meeting address is another. It should not be as 
formal as a sermon. There are literally hundreds of 
subjects and phases of Christian experience, life, and 
duty that cannot ordinarily be presented in preach- 
ing, but can be and should be in the prayer meeting. 
The best idea of the class of subjects which I think 
are appropriate for prayer meeting can be obtained in 
that part of this little book which is given to a review 
of subjects actually used by me during two given 
years. In selecting scriptures and subjects for 
prayer meeting there must be a constant dependence 
upon the Holy Spirit in prayer. He knows what the 
people need, and will lead us to those lines of talk 
that we can use to the best advantage. 

The wise pastor studies his people, knows some- 
thing of their condition, and seeks to help them. In 
his Scripture-reading and in all other studies, as well 
as in pastoral visiting, he constantly has them in 
mind. Then if he is frequent and earnest in prayer 
for divine guidance, he is not likely to have much 
poverty of subjects. 

In a general way I would say that the expository 
method of dealing with Scripture will probably yield 
the best results for the prayer meeting. The people 
know very little Scripture, and greatly need to have it 
read and opened to them by judicious exposition. 
Only he should be careful not to read very long les- 
sons. Read and explain brief passages, mixing the 
reading and the explanation so as to hold interest. 
But the Scripture, with subject and address, is not all 
on which the pastor should be prepared. Let him 
select all the hymns before he goes into the presence 



GETTING READY. 1 5 

of the congregation. I say "let him select them." 
Do not leave this to the organist or choir leader. As 
far as possible let the hymns be in line with the gen- 
eral sentiment of the talk to be made. Very few 
singing people know anything about selecting appro- 
priate songs. Alas! many preachers do not. Let 
the songs be selected and set down by number on a 
slip of paper in the pastor's hymn book before he 
begins the service. This should be done to avoid 
delay and awkwardness. Always be ready to an- 
nounce a hymn number instantly when a song is fin- 
ished or when rising from prayer. For the leader to 
pause a half minute or more while he fumbles through 
the book looking for a suitable hymn occasions not 
only an awkward delay, but shows to the people that 
the pastor is not the master of the books he most 
needs to use. At once, without their even saying it 
to themselves or recognizing it, they lose a measure 
of respect for him in his office. 

As far as possible, the whole programme of the 
meeting should be thought out in the pastor's mind 
before he goes into the room. Of course this will 
frequently be subject to modifications and alterations 
because of the absence or presence of certain persons. 
But if the pastor knows in a general way what he 
| will say and do first and whom he will call on for 
certain service in the meeting (such as the reading of 
a hymn or Scripture passage), it will prevent any 
slowness or confusion. 

While this programme should be in the pastor's 
mind, it should not be hard and fast. What the 
prayer meeting must have is elasticity. Let the leader 



l6 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

watch every indication, and be ready to take advan- 
tage of everything that points the way the Spirit is 
leading. Sometimes it is well to have a set pro- 
gramme printed and distributed through the congre- 
gation, and of course to adhere to it. This will not 
be often, however, and need only be done to give a 
pleasing variety to the order of services, or when for 
any reason it is desired to introduce a number of peo- 
ple into the service for solos, quartets, or talks on 
particular subjects. In any and all events, let full 
preparation be made beforehand — and made every 
time. 



IV. 

THE LEADER. 

The success of the prayer meeting depends more 
upon the leader than upon any other one person — 
yes, more than upon all the other persons present 
combined. A poor leader will defeat an otherwise 
good prayer meeting, while a good leader will over- 
come many defects in the meeting, and will bring suc- 
cess out of what might have been miserable failure. 

Speaking generally, the pastor ought always to lead 
the prayer meeting. He is the only man who natural- 
ly could be supposed to be so burdened with a sense 
of the importance and responsibility of the prayer 
meeting as to be in a suitable frame for its leader- 
ship. It may be well enough on occasions when ex- 
tra prayer meetings are appointed for special purposes, 
or in cottage prayer meetings, to have laymen or per- 
sons other than the pastor to lead them, but the reg- 
ular midweek service of the Church ought always 
to be led by the pastor. It may be said that the 
prayer meeting is a meeting for prayer, and therefore 
any one can be the leader. I answer that that is only 
a half truth, or rather it is only half of the truth. 

The prayer meeting is a meeting for prayer, but it 
is more than that. It is a regular meeting of the 
Church which is primarily for prayer, but it is also a 
time for definite instruction on many things which can 
be brought forward only at such a time. Moreover, 
there is a certain spirit of song that ought to be 

2 07) 



1 8 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

cultivated, there is a spirit of church unity that must 
be emphasized, and a social side that needs to be 
looked after. The regular midweek prayer meeting 
has come to be a function of the Church — of a given 
congregation — and by just so much it is more than 
a company of believers gathered for spiritual exer- 
cise and enjoyment only. To be sure, it is all that, 
and more. The company of believers in search of 
spiritual edification and manifestation ought to be 
there, and to be ministered to; but unless all phases 
are considered, and all classes welded together by 
judicious conduct of the meeting, it will not be long 
until the service will be uninteresting, if not insipid. 

For these reasons, and others, the pastor alone is 
properly qualified to lead the meeting. In his ab- 
sence he may use the best layman he has, or some 
brother minister, but never when he is at home. 

Just at this point it may be noted that some good- 
intentioned pastors are led into an error by a mistaken 
idea of ministerial courtesy. There are local or super- 
annuated preachers in the congregation, or some 
brother pastor or connectional officer, it may be, is 
passing through the town, and, as they ought to do, 
they attend prayer meeting. Immediately the pastor, 
thinking that courtesy demands, invites such a brother 
to lead the meeting. Alas! very few have grace and 
judgment enough to decline. What follows? 

The meeting is probably led by a brother who does 
not know three people who are present, and who is 
entirely ignorant of their spiritual needs. But he 
has, or imagines he has, some reputation to sustain, 
and he gives in outline the best sermon he has, and 



THE LEADER. 1 9 

which is so arranged that it would suit equally well 
for a commencement or a camp meeting. And the poor 
sheep ! they look up and are not fed. They do not 
know it. They think they have been fed; but, sad to 
say, they have only devoured chaff and filled them- 
selves with the east wind. 

What should be said of those pastors who are so 
little impressed with the importance of the prayer 
meeting, and are so indifferent in their preparation 
therefor, that they hail with joy every ecclesiastical 
tramp that comes along, and do not hesitate to put 
him or her up to lead the prayer meeting? Such 
pastors ought to consider again the vows they took 
when they entered the ministry. 

It was my good fortune in one of my pastorates to 
have one of the bishops of the Church in my con- 
gregation at intervals for a period of over two years. 
When at home he always came to prayer meeting; 
and though he was* deeply spiritual and much beloved 
by the people, I did not once ask him to lead, and 
that for the reason that he was not acquainted with 
the spiritual or other needs of my people, and was not 
responsible to God for them. Likewise, I once had 
in my congregation for four years a prominent con- 
nectional officer. He always came to prayer meeting, 
and in my absence frequently led for me. I never asked 
him to lead when I could be present. God has charged 
the pastor with the spiritual welfare of his people, 
and he dare not transfer his opportunity to others. 



V. 
WHO SHOULD PRAY? 

One thing that helps to make some prayer meet- 
ings dull and uninteresting is the fact that the leader 
does not use discretion as to who leads in prayer. 
On the supposition that the pastor is the leader, as 
we have strongly advocated elsewhere, it is to be 
noted that he sliould rarely, if ever, pray in the prayer 
meeting. A moment's reflection will show the rea- 
son for this. He comes before the congregation at 
least twice every Sunday in public prayer. Prayer 
by the pastor in the congregation ought to be helpful, 
uplifting, instructive, enlarging. It ought to be full 
of God, full of the spirit of holiness, full of tenderness, 
comforting to those who are cast down, strengthening 
to those who are tempted, and breathing hope to the 
discouraged. In proportion as he is gifted in prayer, 
all this will follow with more or less fullness. His 
prayers will come to be valued as spiritual food by 
his people as much as or more than his sermons. To 
see this exemplified, read the marvelously beautiful 
and uplifting prayers offered by the late Dr. Joseph 
Parker on Sunday morning in City Temple, London. 

Now, speaking in no improper sense (for the law of 
impression holds in spiritual things as well as in other 
matters), if the pastor leads in prayer on any and all 
occasions, his tones, ideas, and phrases become so 
common that they are commonplace, and then one of 
his chief means of helpfulness to the great congrega- 

(20) 



WHO SHOULD PRAY ? 11 

tion is lost by overfrequent use. If heard occasion- 
ally, the hallelujah chorus in Handel's "Messiah" stirs 
us mightily; but if we heard it every day, it would 
soon lose its power to move us. 

Another reason why the pastor should not often 
pray in the prayer meeting is because there is not time 
for him to do so, and also for others who need this 
form of exercise to have the opportunity for praying. 
The prayer meeting is the place by preeminence for 
developing the gifts of prayer in the laymen — young 
and old, men and women. They need to learn to 
pray for their own benefit, and for the good of the 
congregation. If the pastor takes up the time by 
praying himself, he cuts out one or two lay brothers, 
or two or three good sisters, who ought to have this 
form of spiritual exercise. The pastor does not need 
it. He preaches, leads the meeting, prays on Sun- 
day. But the others get no chance to exercise their 
souls in spiritual things except an occasional prayer 
in the prayer meeting. Please do not rob them of 
this privilege. Of course they are willing for him 
to do it — indeed, would protest if they were informed 
beforehand that they would be called on. So my little 
girl would be willing for her teacher to work all of 
her examples in arithmetic. But the wise teacher 
will not do it, and insists that the child do it herself. 
After a while the child will see why, and will thank the 
teacher. 

Not only should the pastor ordinarily refrain from 
leading in prayer himself: he should not use only a 
certain three or four laymen for this duty. All the 
laymen need to pray in public. True, all will not 



22 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

take part, but by wise effort many can be induced to 
do so, and it should be the constant aim of the pastor 
to increase the number who will respond to such a 
call. There is a way to do this, which is referred 
to elsewhere. 

Just as the pastor will have to decline to invite 
visiting ministers to lead his prayer meeting, so he 
must be very careful about calling on preachers to 
pray in his meeting. Sometimes it happens that there 
are from two to five local, superannuated, or other 
resident ministers in a congregation. Of course they 
generally pray well, and the pastor feels inclined to 
call on them rather than on some halting layman. 
But this will not do. He is not sent there to develop 
these preachers. They are already strong Christians. 
They are prepared to pray in the great congregation 
at the close of the sermon, when a weak-voiced lay- 
man could not be heard. It will not do to use them 
in the prayer meeting, and thus give the laymen no 
chance. Besides, many of these good ministerial 
brethren will pray so long and so stately that the 
prayer meeting is robbed of its sweet simplicity. 

The best way to manage a situation of this kind is 
at the beginning of a pastorate to state publicly that 
the prayer meeting is especially for the Church, the 
men and the women of the local congregation, and 
that resident or visiting ministers are earnestly de- 
sired to attend the prayer meeting, but will very 
rarely be called upon to lead in prayer. If the pas- 
tor states that he himself refrains from leading in 
prayer because he wants to develop others, then the 
ministers who are present will not be offended. Let 



WHO SHOULD PRAY? i% 

every one see that the sole purpose of the prayer meet- 
ing is to do good, and the ground for criticism is 
gone. While we should never be discourteous, and 
there should be thoughtful consideration for all, still 
he who in the conduct of religious services is moved 
by any lower motive than doing good and glorifying 
God is but tethering himself and setting a snare for 
his own feet. 



VI. 

SECURING AN ATTENDANCE. 

It might be well enough to inquire what number 
of people constitute a well-attended and successful 
prayer meeting. Of course the answer will depend to 
a great extent on the number of Church members and 
the average size of the congregation. What would be 
a very poor prayer meeting attendance in some places 
would rightfully be estimated excellent in others. In 
a village or small town, where the Church member- 
ship is not more than one or two hundred, a prayer 
meeting attendance of twenty-five to forty might be 
considered good; whereas an attendance of that num- 
ber in a city Church, with a membership of six hun- 
dred to one thousand, would indicate that the Church 
was greatly lacking in spiritual life and slowly dying. 

Occasionally we hear of some popular city pastor 
who has a prayer meeting attendance of three to five 
hundred. This may be true, but I have never seen 
it so. Moreover, I question very much if the best 
results can be obtained in a prayer meeting that num- 
bers three hundred people. Of course the lecture of 
the leader will bear fruit in any sized congregation — 
the more the better for that feature of the service. 
But really the lecture is only a small part of a well- 
conducted prayer meeting. One of its chief benefits 
is the opportunity that is afforded the pastor in train- 
ing his members, especially the young ones, in public 
prayer and testimony. Where there are three hundred 



SECURING AN ATTENDANCE. %$ 

people this cannot be properly done in the limited 
time that is given to a prayer meeting. Besides, young 
persons unused to public prayer are almost sure to 
pray in so low a tone that two-thirds of the people 
could not hear in a hall large enough to seat three 
hundred people. The result would be that the leader 
would form the habit of calling on a few ministers 
who might be present, or on gifted laymen, to do 
the praying. Their prayers would be good, but the 
timid ones and the young ones who needed the train- 
ing would not get it. 

Our conclusion is that from one hundred to one 
hundred and fifty is quite as many as can be utilized 
and profitably trained in a prayer meeting. It is 
better to have two prayer meetings of one hundred 
and fifty each, than one of three hundred. To secure 
a good attendance, several things are necessary. 

First of all, the prayer meeting must be made 
attractive — in the talk that is given, in the songs, in 
the number that take part, and in the general con- 
duct of the meeting. We cannot expect the people to 
come if the service is dull and heavy, and the spirit 
of those who take any part at all appears as though 
they do it from a sense of duty and not pleasure. 
Everything must be cheerful, sunny, prompt, and 
with a sufficient variety to be pleasing. Just as many 
as possible must be induced to take some part other 
than singing in the meeting. There is much sugges- 
tion in the remark of an old brother as he came away 
from prayer meeting one night after he had made a 
short talk : "Somehow we always have a good meet- 
ing when I take part." So thinks nearly every one. 



26 



TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 



Then the way to do is to get as many as possible to 
contribute to the meeting either by a prayer, a testi- 
mony, a short talk, the reading of a verse of Scrip- 
ture or a hymn, or in some other way that identifies 
them with the service in a public manner. 

In securing a good attendance much depends on the 
frequency and manner of announcement of the 
prayer meeting from the pulpit. In this day, when 
it is customary for some layman to make the announce- 
ments, if the pastor does not himself speak of the 
prayer meeting, and that too in an earnest and strik- 
ing manner, he need not expect the people to come. 
An announcement that "we will have the usual prayer 
meeting" is to serve notice beforehand that it will be 
a tame afifair. Always seek to make the impression 
that it will be an unusual prayer meeting. Never ad- 
mit to yourself or the congregation that you are going 
to have an ordinary service. Always insist that it 
will be good, and that those who stay away will miss 
something. I once knew a pastor to urge the people 
to attend the "weekly" prayer meeting, "spell it," said 
he, "either way you choose." Of course it was "weak- 
ly" following such an announcement. 

The pulpit reference to the prayer meeting must 
be in all phases. Sometimes there should be an en- 
forcement of the duty of attending the prayer meet- 
ing, with reproof for neglect of this duty, but there 
should never be scolding. Avoid that as you would 
shun miasma. It is fatal to all good. There will 
need to be entreaty, but above all things hold out the 
idea that they will miss a good thing if they stay 
away. 



Securing an attendance. 27 

Occasionally call attention to the inconsistencies of 
people in going to other places and neglecting the 
prayer meeting. Point out to the women that they 
should not house-clean or visit on Wednesday after- 
noon, lest their strength be all consumed and they be 
not able to attend prayer meeting. Women have not 
much strength ; and if they use it all up in something 
else on Wednesday, they cannot attend prayer meet- 
ing. Let them see that it is a religious duty to keep 
themselves in good condition for the midweek service. 
By calling attention to this from time to time I have 
noted many women change their customs in this re- 
spect, and become regular attendants on prayer meet- 
ing when before they scarcely ever came. 

It will be especially helpful if, from time to time, 
the subjects of the prayer meeting talk can be an- 
nounced. Especially will this plan be good if the 
topics are a little out of the ordinary, and if there is 
a series of two to four of them, following each other 
in regular order, and all announced at once and re- 
peated from week to week. Just what I mean by 
this will appear in the topics which were actually 
used by me, and which are given elsewhere in this book. 

It is sometimes a good plan to use the town paper 
to call attention to the prayer meeting when for some 
reason it is to be of an unusual character. By print- 
ing the programme in the paper you arrest the at- 
tention of some who would not otherwise hear of it, 
and by use of the types that have already been set 
the printer can give you as many slips as you need, 
and thus every person present can be furnished with 
a programme of the meeting. This gives variety to 



28 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

the exercises and diversifies the manner of conduct- 
ing the meeting. Keep out of the ruts. 

Sometimes a congregation is so indifferent to the 
prayer meeting that it seems nothing will arouse them. 
In such cases a plain, kind, strong personal letter, 
printed in typewriter characters and personally ad- 
dressed and signed, sent to one or two hundred who 
ought to attend, will do great good. I have known 
such a method to succeed where all others had failed. 

Then it is a good plan to have skeleton programmes 
of the next three or four prayer meetings printed and 
handed to the people on Sunday morning. The pas- 
tor who would get his people to prayer meeting must 
have the matter on his own heart, and must contin- 
ually pray for some method that will draw the people 
out. "Have salt in yourselves." 

The following letter was used by me in seeking to 
arouse an interest in the prayer meeting in the pas- 
torate to which this book relates. It was personally 
addressed and signed with pen, and sent to more than 
one hundred people under a two-cent stamp. It never 
pays to send such communications as a circular — un- 
der a one-cent stamp and unsealed. This particular 
letter did much good, and the improved attendance 
was quite marked. 

Will you suffer a word of kindly remonstrance, exhorta- 
tion, and entreaty from your pastor? If so, please read this 
letter very carefully not once but several times, and then 
make the subject of it a matter of real prayer to God — as 
I have done before writing you. 

And please remember that it is written not in a spirit of 
complaint or fault-finding, but in the spirit of Hebrews xiii. 



SECURING AN ATTENDANCE. 29 

17, which says: "Obey those that have the rule over you, 
and submit to them; for they watch in behalf of your souls> 
as they that shall give account; that they may do this with 
joy, and not with grief; for this were unprofitable for you." 

I do not hold the office and work of pastor of my own 
seeking. I came to this work, and to my present Church, 
by the appointment of God. Finding your name on the 
Church register, and knowing that you are under a solemn 
obligation taken in the presence of the people to attend "upon 
the ordinances of the Church and support its institutions," 
I naturally feel much interest in you, and am very desirous 
to help you spiritually to the utmost of my power. 

For this purpose, I earnestly ask you to be regular in 
attendance upon the prayer meeting. Possibly you have not 
been attending at all, or perhaps very irregularly. It may 
be that you have fancied that you are so situated that you 
cannot come. Or you may have had a sort of vague feeling 
that the prayer meeting is not for you, but for other people. 

Whatever the cause that has made you neglect this service 
or attend irregularly, I ask you to wake up and develop a 
conscience on this subject. If God has given me power to 
instruct and help the people, then those who neglect the 
prayer meeting miss one-third of the help the pastor has 
for them. Honestly, before God, will your excuses for fre- 
quent or constant neglect of this service, think you, be ac- 
cepted by the all-seeing Holy Spirit? 

As pastor I put my best thought and effort into the prayer 
meeting, seeking to make it helpful to all my people, and it 
is not immodest in me to say that I sincerely believe that if 
you will attend regularly for six months you will find your- 
self greatly benefited. The prayer meetings are not dull. 
The singing is hearty, the prayers are earnest, the Scripture 
lesson useful, the talk instructive and spiritual, and the serv- 
ice short. 

Please conserve your strength and time so as to regularly 
attend the prayer meeting. 

Do not house-clean or visit Wednesday afternoon. Save 
yourself for the prayer meeting. 



30 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

Do not invite company for Wednesday evening. If you 
have callers, tell them you are bound to attend prayer meet- 
ing. 

Do not attend some social function Tuesday evening, and 
sit up so late that you are too sleepy to attend prayer meeting 
Wednesday evening. 

Think of these and other things that have been keeping 
you away. Remember that the Bible says : "Cursed be he 
that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently." 



VII. 
SOME OVERLOOKED POINTS. 

There are usually some little things upon which the 
final and complete success of any work depends, and 
yet these matters are so very small that we are apt 
to overlook them. It is so with the prayer meeting. 
There are a number of minor matters that, if properly 
regarded, will add in no small degree to the general 
effectiveness and enjoyment of the meeting. 

Chief among these is the size of the room where 
the meeting is held, and the grouping of the audience 
near the preacher. It is quite unfortunate to have to 
hold a prayer meeting in a room that will seat two or 
three times as many people as attend. Most modern 
churches are being so constructed as to provide a 
moderate-sized room that can be used for both Sun- 
day school and prayer meeting. This is as it should 
be. Where the prayer meeting has to be held in the 
regular audience chamber of the church, special ef- 
fort should be made to seat the people close to one 
another and well to the front. Then let the leader 
take his position not in the pulpit but just inside the 
chancel rail; or if the distance between the front pew 
and the chancel is considerable, let him stand outside 
the chancel and as near to the congregation as pos- 
sible. The subtle currents of spiritual influence that 
ought to emanate from the leader will not leap across 
a great dead space that stretches between him and his 
hearers. Get near to them if you would find the point 

(30 



32 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

of vantage. Henry Ward Beecher declared that he 
attributed half his reputation as a preacher to the 
fact that he had his audience so packed around him 
that he could almost touch those on the front seats. 

Again, the leader of the prayer meeting should never 
sit down from the time he enters the r*oom until the 
meeting is over. Let him keep on his feet every mo- 
ment. It is awkward to sit down while the congrega- 
tion sings or some one talks. You can look over your 
audience better, tell who is there, know whom to call 
on for prayer, and command the whole situation bet- 
ter when on your feet than if you alternately stand 
and sit. When you stand, it is much easier to induce 
the long-winded brother to stop talking than if you 
sit. If you are up and moving a little uneasily either 
toward or from him, he feels that the floor is yours 
and that he must not claim it too long. But if you 
are sitting down, he has a sort of feeling that the floor 
is his, and that he must entertain the people indefinite- 
ly. Besides, for the leader to sit down looks to the 
company as though he is tired and is lacking in the 
snap and vitality to maintain the interest in the meet- 
ing. 

On the other hand, never require the congregation 
to stand while they are singing in the prayer meeting. 
The reason for this is obvious. Most of them have 
been on their feet all day, and are tired. To have 
them standing during most of the songs is an unneces- 
sary tax on their strength, and should be avoided. 
Then we wish to free the prayer meeting from the 
formalities of the more stately service. To sit and 
sing throughout the service, till perhaps the last song, 



SOME OVERLOOKED POINTS. 33 

gives a free and restful feeling to the meeting that 
would be lessened if we followed the plan of some 
good brethren who seem to think that their capacity 
for leadership is demonstrated by the frequency with 
which they have their audiences "rising and falling." 

The length of the service has much to do with its 
effectiveness. It is customary to give only one hour 
to the prayer meeting, and many do not hold it over 
forty or forty-five minutes. Now and then some one 
can give only thirty minutes to this most important 
service. This is a great shame, and will inevitably 
result in a barren and unsatisfactory service. 

The prayer meeting should never be less than an 
hour, and the wise leader will find it necessary to 
often go beyond this — sometimes to an hour and 
twenty or twenty-five minutes, but more frequently 
to about an hour and ten minutes. Just because we 
have gotten a notion that we must hold the prayer 
meeting only an hour, or less, we not infrequently 
close the meeting just as we reach the point where 
spiritual good is coming to us. We cannot force the 
Holy Spirit to come to our terms or time. To have 
a rigid rule that we will close when sixty minutes 
have gone is to betray either our ignorance of the Spir- 
it's methods or our indifference to his work. Frequent- 
ly the ten or fifteen minutes beyond the hour have gone 
by so noiselessly that we were oblivious of their flight, 
and constitute the very best part of the prayer meet- 
ing, and which would have been lost if we had held 
to the hard and fast rule of sixty minutes. In none of 
this do I mean to advocate long prayer meetings. My 
own rule for years has been to hold for one hour, but 
3 



34 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

I have never been specially careful about it except 
during the very short and very warm nights in mid- 
summer. In the fall and winter and early spring my 
prayer meetings frequently exceed an hour by ten or 
fifteen minutes. The truth is that a spiritual impres- 
sion and spiritual frame cannot be ordinarily secured 
in a prayer meeting congregation under about an hour. 
When the meeting opens, the people are just from 
their business or other engagements, and very few of 
them are in a spiritual frame. The first two or three 
prayers are cold, formal, halting. But gradually as 
the prayers and songs proceed the fervor rises, until 
by the time the pastor has made an earnest talk of 
from fifteen to twenty-five minutes there takes place 
a sort of amalgamation and melting process, and dur- 
ing the prayers and songs that follow every one is 
conscious that the real prayer meeting is being en- 
joyed. 

Hardly anything perhaps needs to be said on the 
subject of music for the prayer meeting. All recog- 
nize its great importance. Familiar songs should be 
used. Have them selected beforehand, so there will 
be no delay, and so you will not call for something 
that cannot be sung. Any instrument helps, but per- 
sonally I much prefer a piano. There is a cheerful- 
ness about it that is not in the solemn-toned organ, 
and that makes it specially suitable to the prayer meet- 
ing. 

The meeting should be opened exactly on time. 
The only way to get prompt attendance is to begin on 
time to the very minute. It is as easy to train people 
that way as any other, and to train them to know 



SOME OVERLOOKED POINTS. 35 

that promptness has a very beneficial effect on their 
character generally, while slovenliness in beginning 
helps to make them slovenly in all their religious life. 
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord neg- 
ligently." 



VIII. 
FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 

We come now to a presentation of the Scriptures 
and topics actually used during a period of two years 
in one of my pastorates. These topics are not given 
because I think they are ideal or superior to similar 
topics used by other brethren, but because it is in 
keeping with my plan to present the actual prayer 
meeting experience for a period sufficiently long to 
test methods; and by following the record made at 
the time we shall be able to see the difficulties that 
from time to time confront the prayer meeting, and 
how those difficulties were measurably overcome. 
Moreover, I have been impressed for years with the 
paucity of themes and topics used in many prayer 
meetings; and as I am writing for young men in the 
ministry, I have a hope that by giving the topics used 
and the general line of discussion followed in a prayer 
meeting that steadily grew they may find suggestions 
that will help them in after life. 

When I entered upon this particular pastorate, I 
found an excellent class of people living in easy walk- 
ing distance of the church. The church building was 
a fine one, and admirably adapted for all the church 
services, having an excellent room separate from the 
auditorium for prayer meeting purposes. The people 
were cultured, and not specially worldly. I found 
afterwards that for the most part they were formalists, 
knowing but little of real spiritual life, and not well 

(36) 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 37 

informed in the Scriptures. This I did not know at 
the beginning, however; and as everything seemed 
favorable, I supposed we would have a splendid prayer 
meeting. For the first three months I had simply to 
feel my way. The prayer meeting was thoroughly 
disappointing. I was at a great loss to know what 
Scriptures to read or what subjects to discuss. There 
seemed to be almost no response in my audience when 
I mentioned spiritual things. Under these circum- 
stances I found great difficulty in selecting suitable 
lessons. I did not know the exact spiritual state of 
my people, and hence could not decide what things to 
use. In this situation I adhered very closely to the 
practical life of a Christian as brought out in the 
Epistles, especially the Epistles of St. Peter. 
My notebook reveals the following record: 

October 14. 
Present, 65. Scripture, James i. 1-10. 

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers 
temptations ; 

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh pa- 
tience. 

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be 
perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall 
be given him. 

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that 
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind 
and tossed. 



3^ TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any- 
thing of the Lord. 

8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is ex- 
alted : 

io But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the 
flower of the grass he shall pass away. 

The body of the talk was on : 

( i ) The paradoxical statement that to the Christian 
trials and temptations are grounds of rejoicing, be- 
cause 

(2) They develop patience, and patience when com- 
pleted produces a character that is "perfect and entire, 
lacking nothing;" and 

(3) The willingness of God to grant help to those 
who lack wisdom. 

The occasion was pleasant, save that one or two 
persons declined to pray. 

October 21. 

Present, 58. Weather, good. 

I expected an increased attendance, but instead had 
a decrease. One of the oldest members of the Church 
was present, a man nearly eighty years of age. After 
one or two others had declined to pray, I called on 
him; and though he had once held family prayer and 
was reputed to be a deeply religious man, yet he de- 
clined to pray on this occasion. By this time I began 
to see that a strange spirit of unwillingness to do any- 
thing in public possessed the people. So I did not 
read the lesson I had intended, nor any lesson ; but, 
moved as I thought by the Holy Spirit, I proceeded to 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 39 

give a most earnest talk on the duty of prayer and 
testimony. During the talk one brother arose and 
declared that from then on he would pray whenever 
called on. I went home feeling that a beginning had 
been made, but that I had a hard pull before me. 

October 28. 

Present, 85. Weather, splendid. Scripture lesson, 
Psalm xxxiv. 1-10. 

1 I will bless the Lord at all times : his praise shall con- 
tinually be in my mouth. 

2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble 
shall hear thereof, and be glad. 

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name 
together. 

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me 
from all my fears. 

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened : and their 
faces were not ashamed. 

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved 
him out of all his troubles. 

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 
that fear him, and delivereth them. 

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the 
man that trusteth in him. 

9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints : for there is no want to 
them that fear him. 

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger : but they 
that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 

Thinking that maybe my words the preceding week 
on the duty of prayer and testimony had seemed a 
little strong to persons who were evidently so poorly 
prepared for this form of Christian duty, I decided 
to bring them a message of softness from the Psalms. 



4-0 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

My talk was such as would naturally be drawn from 
the verses read, taking them verse by verse. The 
spirit of the meeting was good. A few responded to 
the request to lead in prayer, including one or two 
women. 

November 4. 

Present, 46. 

The small attendance was partly due to a big 
church wedding in a near-by church, occurring just a 
few minutes before the prayer meeting. That man 
will deserve to be canonized in Protestantism who 
will discover some way to prevent people from select- 
ing the prayer meeting night for church weddings. 
Christian parents ought to have better judgment. 
Sometimes, however, young people fix on that night 
without consulting parents or even the pastor. Twice 
in my pastorates I have had young people who were 
arranging to marry set the date for Wednesday night 
at the prayer meeting hour and issue cards, without 
even mentioning the matter to me as pastor. In one 
case I refused to allow the use of the church, and in 
the other persuaded the parties to delay it for an hour 
until the prayer meeting was over. In both cases the 
parties were outside my own congregation. Had they 
been members of my congregation, I would have been 
forced to yield, and thus see my prayer meeting lost; 
or, objecting, feelings would have been hurt and dam- 
age done. The wise pastor can help to prevent such 
things by letting it be known as soon as he enters 
upon a charge that he sets so much store by the prayer 
meeting that he will not allow it interfered with by 
anything short of an absolute necessity. 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 4* 

At this particular service I began a series of talks 
on the First Epistle of Peter, and read and discussed 
i Peter i. 1-3 : 

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scat- 
tered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bi- 
thynia, 

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and 
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and 
peace, be multiplied. 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us 
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 
from the dead. 

The treatment presented: 

(1) To whom the Epistle is addressed: Strangers 
throughout the whole wide world, hence to us. 

(2) The means of election: Sanctification wrought 
by the Spirit, and cleansing through the blood of Je- 
sus. 

(3) To such "strangers," separated ones, cleansed 
and sanctified, "grace and peace be multiplied." 

November ii. 

Present, 56. Weather, good. 

The preceding night a reception to the pastor had 
been held in the same room. That gathering had a 
damaging effect on the prayer meeting. Any sort of 
gathering that touches the main body of a congrega- 
tion will damage the prayer meeting, especially if held 
on the night immediately preceding the prayer meet- 
ing. Many people either cannot or will not go out 



4-2 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

two nights in succession, so that it is wise always to 
prevent congregational assemblings on Tuesday night 
if possible. 

The Scripture for this night was I Peter i. 4-7 : 

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that 
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto 
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, 
if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations : 

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious 
than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might 
be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of 
Jesus Christ. 

The discussion was on: 

(1) The imperishable inheritance for those 

(2) Who are kept by the power of God; and 

(3) The constant "rejoicing" of the Christian 
through sanctification. 

(4) In heaviness through manifold temptations. 

(5) The blessed result of the trial of our faith. 

November 18. 

Present, 33. This was a very cold night, and a 
big church wedding in the church the night before 
helped also to diminish the attendance at prayer meet- 
ing. 

The Scripture lesson was 1 Peter i. 13-25 : 

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, 
and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto 
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves accord- 
ing to the former lusts in your ignorance: 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 43 

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy 
in all manner of conversation; 

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of 
persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the 
time of your sojourning here in fear: 

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with 
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain con- 
versation received by tradition from your fathers; 

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb 
without blemish and without spot: 

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of 
the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up 
from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope 
might be in God. 

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth 
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see 
that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incor- 
ruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for- 
ever. 

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the 
flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof 
falleth away: 

25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this 
is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 

The talk was poor, not worth outlining ; about equal 
to the crowd. 

November 25. 

Present, 65. This was an unfavorable night, but 
an exhortation the Sunday before had a fine eflfect, 
and the attendance picked up. The meeting was ex- 
cellent. 

Scripture lesson, 1 Peter ii. 11-25: 



44 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

ii Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pil- 
grims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles : 
that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may 
by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God 
in the day of visitation. 

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the 
Lord's sake : whether it be to the king, as supreme ; 

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him 
for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them 
that do well. 

15 For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may 
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of 
maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 

17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. 
Honor the king. 

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not 
only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward 
God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your 
faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, 
and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with 
God. 

21 For even hereunto were ye called : because Christ also 
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow 
his steps : 

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth : 

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he 
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him 
that judgeth righteously: 

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on 
the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto right- 
eousness : by whose stripes ye were healed. 

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now re- 
turned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 45 

The talk was mainly from the different verses, tak- 
ing them one at a time. It is a fruitful lesson, espe- 
cially that part of it which relates to the spirit and 
patience of Christ under ill treatment 

December 2. 

Present, 56. The weather was good, and the spirit 
of the meeting fine ; but again the attendance dropped, 
and that without any known reason. 

The lesson was 1 Peter iii. 1-7: 

1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own hus- 
bands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may with- 
out the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled 
with fear. 

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of 
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of 
apparel ; 

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which 
is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet 
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women 
also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in sub- 
jection unto their own husbands: 

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord : whose 
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid 
with any amazement. 

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to 
knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker 
vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that 
your prayers be not hindered. 

The talk was on "The Two Toilets," seeking to 
show in what the true adorning of a godly woman 
consisted. 



46 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

December 9. 

Present, 45. This was an unfavorable night, but 
the service, while poorly attended, was fine in spirit. 
In one respect the small attendance had a good result : 
it gave me a better chance to call on and get young 
and timid people to pray. During these first three 
months much of this was done, and many made their 
first attempt to pray in public. 

In getting persons to pray in public, some skill is 
necessary. I doubt if it is generally wise to ask them 
beforehand. A better way is to take it for granted 
that all Christians will perform this duty. Then, as 
the call to prayer is made, state : "We will have three 
short prayers. Brother S — will lead first, Brother T — 
second, and Brother U — will conclude." By begin- 
ning with a person that you are pretty sure will lead, 
the next one gains confidence while the first one is 
praying; and having the prayer concluded by a man 
who is in the habit of public prayer also helps the 
timid one. Nearly always this plan will succeed. 
Sometimes it is well enough to say: "We will now 
have two or three short prayers from some of our 
sisters, and they will please lead us as follows.'' In 
this way one strengthens another, and a prayer is 
offered by persons that would not think of doing so 
if called on by themselves. 

The Scripture lesson was 1 Peter iii. 8-12: 

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one 
of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but 
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, 
that ye should inherit a blessing. 



FEELING MY WAY FOR THREE MONTHS. 47 

io For he that will love life, and see good days, let him 
refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak 
no guile: 

ii Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, 
and ensue it. 

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and 
his ears are open unto their prayers : but the face of the 
Lord is against them that do evil. 

December 16. 
Present, 48. The weather was good and the service 
excellent, but the attendance was again poor. For 
some reason, which is not given in my notes, no 
Scripture lesson was read at this service, but the hour 
was given to testimony, singing, and prayer. 

December 23. 

Present, 35. The weather was good; but, as the 
date shows, it was just two days before Christmas, 
and, as is well known, the spirit of Christmas hilarity 
ill comports with the religious earnestness of a prayer 
meeting. 

On this particular occasion my own heart was full 
of a sense of God's goodness, so that I drew my talk 
from the four following beautiful statements of God's 
Word, and which I had noted in my own devotional 
Scripture-reading : 

"His favor is for a lifetime." (Ps. xxx. 5. R. V.) 
"My times are in thy hand." (Ps. xxxi. 15.) 
"Yet the Lord thinketh upon me." (Ps. xl. 17.) 
"This I know, that God is for me." (Ps. lvi. 9. 
R. V.) 

It can be seen at a glance how comforting these 
passages are to a Christian. 



IX. 

MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 

Three months in my new pastorate had gone by. 
They had been to me three months of disappointment, 
of perplexity, and of some little encouragement. I 
had found it necessary to feel my way very carefully. 
I could not exactly determine the spiritual status of 
my people, and hence I did not know just what things 
to insist on. I relied for the most part on general 
lines of instruction, and cried incessantly to God for 
help and direction. As the new calendar year opened, 
I felt that I began to get a new and better grasp 
on the situation, as I trust will be revealed in the 
better line of prayer meeting topics from this on. 

January 20. 

Present, 59. Weather, good. 

This was a fine service. My notebook does not con- 
tain any account of the prayer meetings from De- 
cember 23 until January 20. I suppose I was out of 
the city, and hence no record. Thinking that I had 
discovered in my congregation a lack in the greeting 
and welcome of strangers, I determined to make it the 
subject of a prayer meeting talk, and accordingly for 
this occasion announced as my theme : "Looking after 
Strangers; or, The Power of Social Christianity." 
The scriptures used were: 

Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the 
heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of 
Egypt. — Exodus xxiii. 9. 

(48) 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 49 

And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall 
not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall 
be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him 
as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am 
the Lord your God. — Leviticus xix. 33, 34. 

Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in 
the land of Egypt. — Deuteronomy x. 19. 

At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the 
tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up with- 
in thy gates : and the Levite, (because he hath no part nor 
inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, 
and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and 
shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless 
thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. — Deu- 
teronomy xiv. 28, 29. 

And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, 
and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy 
maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and 
the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are 
among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath 
chosen to place his name there. And thou shalt remember 
that thou wast a bondman in Egypt : and thou shalt observe 
and do these statutes. Thou shalt observe the feast of tab- 
ernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy 
corn and thy wine : and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, 
and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy 
maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, 
and the widow, that are within thy gates. — Deuteronomy xvL 
11-14. 

Let not a widow be taken into the number under three 
score years old, having been the wife of one man, well 
reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, 
if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' 
feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently 
followed every good work. — 1 Timothy v. 9, 10. 

In the talk emphasis was placed upon the words, 
"not oppress," "love," "eat," "rejoice," "lodged 
4 



50 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

strangers/' as embodying the attitude that Christians 
should have toward strangers who come in to wor- 
ship with them. An instance was referred to of one 
good man I had known who nearly always carried 
some stranger home to dine with him on Sunday. 
This he was especially careful to do if the stranger 
was a young man. Other cases were given to show 
what could be done by a warm welcome to the 
church and a little kindly hospitality. 

January 2.7. 

Present, 50. Weather, fair and cold. Service, 
good. The scripture used was 1 Corinthians i. 1-4: 

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through 
the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them 
that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with 
all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ 
our Lord, both theirs and ours : 

3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, 
and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace 
of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. 

These verses afforded an opportunity to talk of : 

(1) Paul's right to speak and our duty to hear him 
— he was an "apostle/' 

(2) To whom he wrote — the church, the sanctified, 
and to "all who call upon the Lord/' hence to us. 

(3) His benediction on them — grace and peace from 
the Triune God. 

(4) His concern for them — "I thank my God al- 
ways on your behalf." 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. S 1 

Of course the object I had in view was to illus- 
trate and enforce the rightful pastoral authority of 
the true minister and the corresponding obligation on 
the people to hear and be led by him. This sense of 
reverent respect for pastoral authority and leadership 
is very weak in some congregations — made so also by 
ministers who are unworthy their high calling. Until 
this feeling is established among a people, they may 
regard the pastor as the "voice of one who has a 
lovely song/' but they will not obey his words. 

February 3. 

I was absent from this service; out of the city. 
It was led by a layman. It is a good plan to occa- 
sionally invite a layman to lead the prayer meeting 
when the pastor is out of the city. But always deal 
fairly with your congregation by telling them the pre- 
vious Sunday that you will be absent, and that 
Brother So-and-So will lead. Urge them to come 
just as though you were going to be there. By do- 
ing this way you will not disappoint them, you will 
aid the brother who is to lead and save him from 
embarrassment, and add dignity to the service. The 
people will feel that you regard it as important, seeing 
you are not willing to leave without making provision 
for its proper conduct. To publicly announce that a 
certain brother will lead a particular service is always 
a great help. No man likes to appear before an audi- 
ence to lead a meeting on what seems to be his own 
motion. Let him have the indorsement of a public 
notice that he will lead. 



52 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

February io. 

Present, 40. Good service. Subject: " Abraham 
Interceding for Sodom." Scripture, Genesis xviii. 

23-33 = 

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also 
destroy the righteous with the wicked? 

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: 
wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty 
righteous that are therein? 

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay 
the righteous with the wicked : and that the righteous should 
be as the wicked, that be far from thee : Shall not the Judge 
of all the earth do right? 

26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous 
within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have 
taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust 
and ashes : 

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous : 
wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, 
If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradven- 
ture there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not 
do it for forty's sake. 

30 And he said unto him, O let not the Lord be angry, 
and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found 
there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to 
speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty 
found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's 
sake. 

32 And he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will 
speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found 
there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 

33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left 
communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto 
his place. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 53 

This was the first of several prayer meeting talks 
on the general subject of intercessory prayer. I was 
planning to begin revival services, and was seeking to 
show my people the value of prayer for others, and 
to try in some measure to beget in them the spirit 
of prayer. 

February 17. 

I was again absent, assisting in revival services 
elsewhere. This service was led by a layman. 

February 24. 

Present, 38. Splendid service, though the attend- 
ance was mortifyingly small. The scriptures read 
were Exodus xxxii. 7-14, xxxii. 31-34, and xxxiii. 
1-23. The first passage only is given here: 

7 And die Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for 
thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, 
have corrupted themselves : 

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I 
commanded them : they have made them a molten calf, and 
have worshiped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, 
These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up 
out of the land of Egypt. 

9 And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, 
and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people : 

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax 
hot against them, and that I may consume them : and I will 
make of thee a great nation. 

II And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, 
why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou 
hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, 
and with a mighty hand? 

12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For 
mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the moun- 



54 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

tains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? 
Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against 
thy people. 

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, 
to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto 
them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and 
all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your 
seed, and they shall inherit it forever. 

14 And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought 
to do unto his people. 

This subject and talk, as before stated, was to im- 
press the great value of intercessory prayer. 

March 2. 

Present, 30. This was a very cold night, and by 
some mistake the sexton did not have the room warm. 
I soon saw that the people could not afford to remain 
long in the room without endangering their health, 
and so after a very brief service they were dismissed. 

The subject was: "A Church at Prayer under 
Great Difficulties." Scripture used, Acts xii. 5-12: 

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison : but prayer was made 
without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 

6 And. when Herod would have brought him forth, the 
same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound 
with two chains : and the keepers before the door kept the 
prison. 

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and 
a light shined in the prison : and he smote Peter on the side, 
and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains 
fell off from his hands. 

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on 
thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast 
thy garment about thee, and follow me. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 5f> 

9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that 
it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he 
saw a vision. 

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, 
they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; 
which opened to them of his own accord : and they went out, 
and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel 
departed from him. 

ii And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now 
I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and 
hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all 
the expectation of the people of the Jews. 

12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the 
house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; 
where many were gathered together praying. 

Following this the revival shortly began, and lasted 
three weeks, resulting in a blessing to many souls and 
putting new life into the prayer meeting. From first 
to last during the revival I insisted over and over 
again that a religion that was indifferent to prayer 
meeting would never be vigorous and was lacking in 
saving power. 

Six months of my first year in this pastorate had 
gone by. I had been present and kept a record of 
sixteen prayer meetings, and the record showed that 
the average attendance was only fifty. From this on, 
however, the attendance was much improved, as the 
record for the next six months will show. 

April 6 and 13. 

Present April 6, 80. Present April 13, 75. For 
these two prayer meetings the subject was the same: 
"Praise/' The first night did not suffice to exhaust 
it, and so it was continued for the next week. 



56 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

This subject was chosen because I had found in 
my congregation a strong indisposition to public testi- 
mony. In many there was positive refusal, and in 
some a little showing of ridicule. The subject proved 
very interesting and instructive. Many scriptures 
bearing on "Praise" were read, too many to be quoted 
here. 

After showing that God desires us to praise him be- 
cause he has the heart of a father, and cannot be 
satisfied till there is intelligent response to his love, 
and such response implies expression, the following 
phases of the subject were presented: 

(1) The scriptural obligation to praise God. (Ps. 
lxix. 30-32, lxxiv. 21, cxlv. 1, 2; 1 Chron. xvi. 36; 
Joel ii. 26; Isa. lx. 18.) 

(2) In what praise consists: (a) Its root meaning 
is to "break out in a cry, especially of joy." The 
prominent idea is noise. (6) Thanksgiving is one of 
the most important and simplest forms of praise, and 
its absence is a note of heathenism. (Rom. i. 21.) 
(c) Singing is a prominent form of praise, too well 
understood to need discussion, (d) Exclamations or 
ascriptions of praise are common in Scripture. (Luke 
ii. 13, 14, xix. 37, 38; Matt. xxi. 9; Rev. vii. 10.) 

(3) Where to praise: (a) In some sense every- 
where and all the time, (b) More especially in God's 
house and in the assembly of the saints. 

(4) For what to praise: (a) For forgiveness; (b) 
for healing — health; (c) for redemption from destruc- 
tion; (d) for loving-kindness and tender mercies — all 
the good things of life; (e) for the satisfying of the 
soul — spiritual supplies. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 57 

April 20. 

Present, 48. Weather, bad. Subject: "How God 
Answers Prayer." Many people believe that God 
hears and answers prayer, but few take note of the 
natural ways, the prevenient grace, the providences 
and seeming accidents by which it is done. This hour 
was given to a sort of object lesson study drawn 
from the Scriptures, showing how God does answer 
prayer. 

The particular case considered was St. Paul's almost 
lifelong desire to visit and preach in Rome, and his 
request to the Roman Church to join with him in 
prayer to that end. 

The following was read : 

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in 
the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention 
of you always in my prayers; making request, if by any 
means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by 
the will of God to come unto you. — Romans i. 9, 10. 

For which cause also I have been much hindered from 
coming to you. But now having no more place in these 
parts, and having a great desire these many years to come 
unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will 
come to you : for I trust to see you in my journey, and to 
be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be some- 
what filled with your company. But now I go unto Jeru- 
salem to minister unto the saints. — Romans xv. 22-25. 

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's 
sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together 
with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be 
delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that 
my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the 
saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of 
God, and may with you be refreshed. — Romans xv. 30-32. 



5§ TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

In these quotations, in addition to the apostle's 
strong desire to visit Rome, it will be noted that he 
calls upon the Church at Rome to join with him in 
prayer for these things : 

(i) That he might be delivered from those who 
did not believe in Judea — i. e. y malignant Jews who 
would seek his injury. 

(2) That the offerings which he bore from the 
Gentile converts at Corinth might be accepted by the 
poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. 

(3) That he might ultimately reach Rome, and with 
them be refreshed. 

We shall see how God answered all these prayers, 
and especially the first one as to his personal safety, by 
a series of interferences and most remarkable deliv- 
erances. His first answer was in the form of shut- 
ting a door in his face. The apostle had intended to 
begin his journey to Jerusalem by setting sail from 
Corinth, but certain malignant Jews of that city 
formed a plot against him. They perhaps thought 
that they could get their hands on him and kill him 
about the time he was taking ship. In some way he 
heard of this, and to their confusion changed his 
plans and went by land, leaving of course unexpected- 
ly to them. 

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given 
them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there 
abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, 
as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return 
through Macedonia. — Acts xx. 2, 3. 

God next helped him by giving him notice before- 
hand that trouble awaited him. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 59 

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, 
not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that 
the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and 
afflictions abide me. — Acts xx. 22, 23. 

When he reached Jerusalem, he received the answer 
to the second petition of his prayer, as is shown in 
the following: 

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren re- 
ceived us gladly. — Acts xxi. 17. 

His next deliverance was from a violent mob which 
sought to take his life, as appears from these words : 

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying him- 
self with them entered into the temple, to signify the accom- 
plishment of the days of purification, until that an offering 
should be offered for every one of them. And when the 
seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, 
when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, 
and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help : 
This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the 
people, and the law, and this place: and further brought 
Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 
(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus 
an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought 
into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people 
ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the 
temple : and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they 
went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of 
the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who imme- 
diately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto 
them : and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, 
they left beating of Paul. — Acts xxi. 26-32. 

The devil seemed to be using every agency possible 
to destroy Paul ; and having failed with the mob, he 



60 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

aroused the council, from which turbulent body God 
also delivered his servant. 

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension be- 
tween the Pharisees and the Sadducees : and the multitude 
was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resur- 
rection, neither angel, nor spirit : but the Pharisees confess 
both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that 
were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We 
find no evil in this man : but if a spirit or an angel hath 
spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there 
arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul 
should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the 
soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among 
them, and to bring him into the castle. — Acts xxiii. 7-10. 

At this juncture God saw that his faithful apostle 
needed a special comfort, and so in the darkness of 
the night, doubtless while he was in prayer, he gave 
him the assurance that he would yet reach Rome. 

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, 
Be of good cheer, Paul : for as thou hast testified of me in 
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. — Acts 
xxiii. 11. 

His next deliverance was from the oath-bound mob. 
It is altogether probable that these wicked Jews had 
no thought that any Jew in all that great city who was 
not a Christian would expose their plot. But God 
had one of Paul's blood relations — a nephew — who, 
whether he was a Christian or not, did not want to 
see his uncle disposed of in this way. God always has 
some one ready to serve his purpose. 

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, 
and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would 
neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 6 1 

were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And 
they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have 
bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing 
until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the coun- 
cil signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto 
you to-morrow, as though ye would inquire something more 
perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are 
ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister's son heard of 
their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and 
told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto 
him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: 
for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and 
brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner 
called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man 
unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. Then the 
chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside 
privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou 
wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as 
though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 
But do not thou yield unto them : for there lie in wait for 
him of them more than forty men, which have bound them- 
selves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till 
they have killed him : and now are they ready, looking for a 
promise from thee. So the chief captain then let the young 
man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou 
hast showed these things to me. And he called unto him 
two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to 
go to Caesarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and spear- 
men two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and pro- 
vide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him 
safe unto Felix the governor. — Acts xxiii. 12-24. 

Then came what must have been a very puzzling 
experience to the apostle: he was kept in prison for 
two years. During the time he had a testing from 
the Lord, brought about by a very adroit temptation 
of the devil. 



62 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

It was this: He had a chance to buy himself out of 
prison. How natural it would have been to say : "As 
I want to go to Rome to preach the gospel, and as God 
has assured me that I shall go, and as my imprison- 
ment is all wrong and of the devil, and as I can do 
no good here and could do good in Rome, and my 
friends are willing to furnish the money, I will buy 
my way out and go on with the Lord's work." But not 
so. In effect he said : "Thou God of my life hast shut 
me up in this prison without any wrongdoing on 
my part, and here I will stay till the doors are opened 
by legal authority and rightful processes." All this can 
be read between the lines of the following quotation : 

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let 
him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his ac- 
quaintance to minister or come unto him. And after certain 
days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a 
Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith 
in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, 
and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy 
way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will 
call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been giv- 
en him of Paul, that he might loose him : wherefore he sent for 
him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two 
years Porcius Festus came into Felix's room : and Felix, 
willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. — Acts 
xxiv. 23-27. 

A little later he was saved, doubtless by the pre- 
venient grace of God, from an influential friend who 
would have released him sooner than it was best. 

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have 
been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. — Acts 
xxvi. 32. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 63 

Then came the long and trying voyage to Rome, 
during which there were several remarkable deliver- 
ances. Once Luke and the others lost all hope, and 
God had to give his servant another special comfort- 
ing assurance, as is seen here : 

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, 
and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be 
saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul 
stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should 
have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, 
and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort 
you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any 
man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by 
me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom 
I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before 
Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with 
thee. — Acts xxvii. 20-24. 

Following this he was delivered from the murder- 
ous purpose of the soldiers, and from the engulfing 
sea: 

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest 
any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, 
willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and 
commanded that they which could swim should cast them- 
selves first into the sea, and get to land : and the rest, some 
on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so 
it came to pass, that they escaped all to land. — Acts xxvii. 
42-44- 

Once more Satan sought to slay him, this time by 
a venomous reptile, but God delivered him. 

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the 
island was called Melita. And the barbarous people showed 
us no little kindness : for they kindled a fire, and received us 



64 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

every one, because of the present rain, and because of the 
cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and 
laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and 
fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the 
venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among them- 
selves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he 
hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And 
he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. — Acts 
xxviii. 1-5. 

Then after some further delay came Rome, and the 
prayer was answered. 

And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhe- 
gium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came 
the next day to Puteoli : where we found brethren, and were 
desired to tarry with them seven days : and so we went to- 
ward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of 
us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The 
three taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and 
took courage. And when we came to Rome, the centurion 
delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard : but Paul 
was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kep': 
him. — Acts xxviii. 13-16. 

Of course there is entirely too much scripture 
quoted here to be read at a prayer meeting. Only the 
chief passages could be read, and the others spoken 
of. I have given it all here for the benefit of those 
who would like to make a careful study of the subject. 

April 27. 

Present, 65. Fine service. 
Scripture, Philippians iv. 1-7: 

1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, 
my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly be- 
loved. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. &5 

2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be 
of the same mind in the Lord. 

3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those 
women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement 
also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in 
the book of life. 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord 
is at hand. 

6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer 
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made 
known unto God. 

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

In the talk several things were mentioned at some 
length : 

(1) The tender feeling of the apostle (and so every 
true pastor) for his flock, as we may see in such ex- 
pressions as "dearly beloved/' "longed for," "my joy 
and crown," etc. 

(2) The fact that good women sometimes differ, 
and the need of harmony between them. (Verse 2.) 

(3) The helpfulness of good women, and the duty 
of the pastor to encourage them. (Verse 3.) 

(4) The possibility of rejoicing in the Lord "al- 
ways." (Verse 4.) 

(5) The Christian duty and privilege 6f avoiding 
anxious care. (Verses 6 and 7.) 

During the month of May I was absent several 
prayer meetings attending to other Church work, and 
find no record for that month. 
5 



66 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

June i. 

Present, 65. Weather, fine. 

Subject: "The Baptismal Formula." Just previous 
to this I had baptized several, both adults and infants. 
Having been impressed that but few people rightly 
understood the beautiful significance of the baptismal 
formula, I decided to make a talk on it at prayer 
meeting. 

The scripture read at the beginning was Matthew 
xxviii. 1 : 

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost. 

(1) This formula is slightly varied in Acts ii. 38, 
viii. 14-16, and xix. 5. In these places the baptism 
seems to have been administered in the name of Jesus 
only. The reason must have been that these persons 
were already Jews, and so were in the faith and cov- 
enant of God the Father, and hence only needed to 
affirm faith in Christ. 

(2) Why is the given name used in baptism and 
not the surname? This is a puzzling thing to many 
people, (a) The surname is not our real name. It 
is only a family name, and is often derived from occu- 
pation, country, or some accident of residence. Thus 
Redford was probably "Reedy-ford," and was used 
to designate a certain man who lived near a reedy 
ford across some stream, (b) Given or Christian 
names have character in them, and were originally 
bestowed to designate certain well-defined traits in 
the individual, or certain characteristics that the par- 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 67 

ents of the child felt divinely inspired to foreshadow 
by a name. Name really means nature, and an argu- 
ment of some strength can be produced to show that 
to this day Christian parents are frequently led to be- 
stow names on their children that indicate character. 
There was a fine opportunity here to give an interest- 
ing talk on the general significance of names, for 
which I had sought to prepare myself by a study of 
two or three works on names, but which cannot be 
introduced here. 

(3) Attention was called to the fact that in the 
Revised Version the baptismal formula is "into" and 
not "in." Upon the supposition that this is correct, 
the question recurs, why ? The answer is twofold, and, 
if we do not mistake, lends far more beauty and sig- 
nificance to the act of baptism than we have been 
accustomed to see. (a) The phrase "baptize into" 
the name of the "Father, and the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost" finds its first explanation in the fact that the 
converts from heathenism were to come from "gods" 
many and "lords" many to the one true God, and hence 
they must be baptized into his name, (fe) Do not the 
Scriptures teach that in some mysterious but very real 
sense Christians are in the family of God? and if bap- 
tism is the outward sign of entrance to the kingdom, is 
it not proper that the formula should be "into" rather 
than "in," which is only equivalent to "by the authority 
of God I baptize you?" 

The apostle uses very wonderful language in Ephe- 
sians iii. 14, 15, when he says : 

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 



68 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is 
named. 

See also Romans viii. 16 and Galatians iv. 6. In 
the foregoing I do not mean for a moment to teach 
baptismal regeneration. It is a mischievous doc- 
trine that has wrought much evil. The thought in my 
mind is, that when a genuine believer receives bap- 
tism by a proper administrator, or when an infant is 
duly baptized at the sincere request of believing par- 
ents, the parties so baptized come, by virtue of that 
fact, under the covenant mercies of God in a sense 
which cannot be affirmed of the heathen or of other 
unbaptized persons. And thus we see again why the 
surname is not used. At baptism they obtain a new 
family name. Henceforth they are metaphorically, 
ideally, legally, "children" of God. O that all were 
really such! (c) The triune name is used in the 
formula to teach the Trinity. 

June 8. 

Present, 55. Weather, good. 

Subject: "Christ's Slave." 

( 1 ) Attention was called to the fact that all through 
the epistles of Paul and Peter, where they refer to 
themselves as "servants" of Christ, the rendering 
should be, and is in the Revised Version, "bond serv- 
ant," which means precisely the same as our word 
"slave." The idea in the minds of these great apos- 
tles was that they were slaves of Jesus Christ. (See 
Rom i. 1 ; Phil. i. 1 ; Tit. i. 1 ; 1 Pet. ii. 16; etc.) This 
idea of the relation of the Christian to Christ is 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 69 

leagues in advance of the prevalent thought of to- 
day. 

(2) The reason for this bond service: "Ye are 
not your own; for ye are bought with a price." (1 
Cor. vi. 19, 20; vii. 23.) 

(3) The spirit of their bond service — not con- 
strained, but loving sonship. (1 Cor. vii. 21, 22 ; 
Eph. vi. 6.) 

(4) The extent of their bond service — complete obe- 
dience, and an effort in all things to please God. (Gal. 
i. 10.) 

June 15. 

Present, 80. Weather, perfect. 

On this occasion, in place of the talk by the pastor, 
two good women just home from an Annual Meeting 
of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society gave us an 
account of their great meeting, producing a fine effect. 
It is always a good plan to utilize the prayer meeting 
in the interest of the foreign and home mission work of 
the women. It should be done, however, under the 
direction of the pastor. It must still be a prayer meet- 
ing, with the time usually given to his talk occupied 
by others, whose names and subjects he should select, 
or at least approve, beforehand. And they should be 
brought forward by him. If he abdicates his position 
and retires, leaving the women to direct the exercises, 
he will find that his prayer meeting suffers, though 
the people may not utter a word of protest. 

June 22. 
Present, 80. Weather, ideal. 
This service was given to reading and commenting 



70 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

on the General Rules as laid down in the Discipline 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It was a 
profitable hour. 

June 29. 

Present, 65. Weather, excellent. 
The service was led by the presiding elder. Pas- 
tor out of the city. 

July 6. 

Present, 85. Weather, ideal. 

Subject: 'The Ten Most Important Chapters of 
the Bible." 

Very few people have any just idea of what is 
fundamental or necessary in Christian doctrine. In 
order to bring out these things forcibly, I requested 
my congregation on Sunday morning to consider this 
proposition. Suppose an edict were issued by compe- 
tent authority to destroy all the Bible except ten chap- 
ters, and you were given the privilege of selecting the 
chapters that were to be spared, which chapters would 
you choose? I requested them to hand in their writ- 
ten answers on Wednesday evening at prayer meeting, 
signed or unsigned, as they preferred. My object was 
to put them to thinking, and to impress on their minds 
the fundamentals in Christian doctrine. When the 
time came, quite a number of answers were handed in, 
some of which were reasonably good, but most of them 
wicfe of the mark. 

I had previously placed on a blackboard the ten 
chapters that I would select, with my reason therefor. 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 7 1 

At the proper time it was produced, and a brief talk 
given as to why these chapters were selected. Here 
they are : 

Creation — Genesis, chapters i. and ii. 

The Fall — Genesis, chapter iii. 

Moral Law — Exodus, chapter xx. 

Birth of Jesus — Luke, chapter ii. 

Crucifixion — Luke, chapter xxiii. 

Resurrection and Ascension — Luke, chapter xxiv. 

Regeneration and Love of God — John, chapter iii. 

Pentecost and Founding of Church — Acts, chapter ii. 

Heaven — Revelation, chapter xxi. 

July 27. 

Present, 65. Impressive service. 

Subject: "The Mystery of Early Death; or, The 
Worth and Loss of Little Children/' 

Just previous to this date I had been called to bury 
some little children and one or two infants. Noting 
the sorrow occasioned by the going of these precious 
little ones, I was led to believe that the subject of 
early death would be a profitable theme for instruction 
and comfort in a prayer meeting talk. The verse of 
Scripture read was Hosea ii. 15: 

15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and 
the valley of Achor for a door of hope : and she shall sing 
there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the days when 
she came up out of the land of Egypt. 

Death is always a mystery, but in the old it is ac- 
cepted as a matter of course, the wheels of life having 
run down. The mystery is increased tenfold when 



72 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

the life ends in infancy or early childhood. Is there 
any relief? any blessing? any explanation? 

(i) Its meaning to the subjects themselves: (a) 
They are saved from sin, from pain, from sorrow, and 
saved in heaven, (b) There they enter upon a life of 
uninterrupted development and service, which growth 
is not hindered and made difficult by the sinful expe- 
riences and memories of the earthly life. 

(2) Its meaning to parents and near relatives. The 
lives of children who die young, however short they 
may be, enriches their parents' hearts and lives: (a) 
By softening their natures and awakening love, (b) 
This change of nature in the parent becomes more or 
less permanent through the power of memory, (c) 
Hence, better to love and lose than never to have had 
any to love, (d) Only by fatherhood and loss do we 
understand God. 

(3) Their loss becomes a "door of hope" to the be- 
reaved parents, (a) It brings them to lean on God. 
(b) It puts them to thinking of others. 

The whole was illustrated by the account of three 
good women I have known who, because of the loss 
of a little girl in childhood, have each been led to 
educate a Chinese girl, and in this way have had their 
hearts turned to foreign missions and the saving of 
heathen women. 

August 3. 

Present, 75. Weather, perfect. 

Subject: "God's Help in the Common Work of 
Life." Scriptures used were Exodus xxxv. 30-35, 
xxxvi. 1 : 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 73 

30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the 
Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son 
of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 

31 And he hath rilled him with the spirit of God, in wis- 
dom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner 
of workmanship; 

32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in 
silver, and in brass, 

33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving 
of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. 

34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both 
he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 

35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all 
manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning work- 
man, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, 
and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any 
work, and of those that devise cunning work. 

1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise- 
hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understand- 
ing to know how to work all manner of work for the service 
of the sanctuaty, according to all that the Lord had com- 
manded. 

From this was drawn the truth that just as God 
helped Bezaleel and the others in the engravings and 
other ornamentation of the tabernacle, so we should 
seek and expect to receive help in doing even the 
common things of life, if done in the work of the 
Lord and for his glory. 

"If done to obey thy laws, 

E'en servile labors shine; 
Hallowed is toil, if this the cause, 
The meanest work, divine." 



74 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

August io. 

Present, 62. Weather, hot. 

Subject: "The Pastor's Conflict." Scripture, Co- 
lossians ii. 1-10: 

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for 
you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not 
seen my face in the flesh; 

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together 
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of under- 
standing, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and 
of the Father, and of Christ; 

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowl- 
edge. 

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with 
enticing words. 

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in 
the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stead- 
fastness of your faith in Christ. 

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, 
so walk ye in him : 

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, 
as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and 
vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of 
the world, and not after Christ. 

9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bod- 

iiy- 

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all 
principality and power. 

From this was drawn a somewhat general talk on 
the real concern which every true pastor feels for the 
spiritual development of those under his care. Many 
people have no conception of this whatever, but think 
the pastoral office like any other position where a 
certain amount of service is given and so much pay 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 75 

is received. A review of the real attitude of the pas- 
tor with St. Paul for an illustration is very helpful. 

August 17. 

Present, 58. Many people out of the city. In place 
of the customary Scripture lesson and talk thereon, I 
read them selections from "Ancient Sermons for Mod- 
ern Times. " These were preached by Asterius, Bish- 
op of Amasia, more than fifteen hundred years ago. 
I had found them so full of gospel truth, and stated 
in such a fresh way, that I felt that my people would be 
profited by hearing certain sections. I wanted them 
to see the exact correspondence between real gospel 
preaching in the fourth century and the twentieth cen- 
tury. It was so much enjoyed that one lady decided 
to order the book for herself. 

On August 24 and 31 I was out of the city, and the 
meeting was led by laymen. 

September 7. 

Present, 55. Many still out of the city. 
Scripture read, Deuteronomy viii. 2-5 : 

2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord 
thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to hum- 
ble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, 
whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 

3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and 
fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did 
thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man 
doth not live by bread only, but by every word that pro- 
ceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. 

4 Thy raiment waxed not old. upon thee, neither did thy 
foot swell, these forty years. 



76 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man 
chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. 

This afforded opportunity for a helpful talk on 
God's leading of his people, then and now. 

September 14. 

Present, 60. Weather, good. 
Scripture read, Colossians iii. 12-17: 

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and be- 
loved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meek- 
ness, long-suffering; 

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if 
any man have a quarrel against any : even as Christ forgave 
you, so also do ye. 

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the 
bond of perfectness. 

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the 
which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wis- 
dom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and 
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts 
to the Lord. 

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the 
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father 
by him. 

Instead of a talk from the pastor, several persons 
gave us talks on the "religious benefit of their sum- 
mer outing." It was a helpful service. 

September 21. 

Present, 65. Extra good meeting. 
This being the closing prayer meeting for the Con- 
ference year, and having had an unbroken year of 



MINISTERING TO RECOGNIZED NEEDS. 77 

harmony and good will, the subject chosen for this 
service was "Brotherly Love," and the opening scrip- 
ture was i Peter iii. 8: 

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one 
of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 

This was shown to be taught of God, I Thessa- 
lonians iv. 9, 10 : 

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write 
unto you : for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one 
another. 

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are 
in all Macedonia : but we beseech you, brethren, that ye 
increase more and more. 

Its character is seen in Romans xii. 10 : 

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly 
love ; in honor preferring one another. 

Its nature is shown in 1 Peter i. 22 : 

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth 
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see 
that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 

Its degree is pointed out in 1 Peter iv. 8 : 

8 And in all things have fervent charity among yourselves : 
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

On my record book I find this note: 'Total attend- 
ance on thirty-two prayer meetings, for which there is 
record, 1,882. Average for the first sixteen meetings, 
50. Average for the second sixteen meetings, 67. 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 
October 5. 

Present, 64. Good meeting. Scripture, Zephaniah 
i. 1, 2. This was the first meeting of the new Con- 
ference year; and while we had a pleasant service, 
there was not much in the scripture selected, and the 
talk was poor. 

October 12. 

Present, 67. Excellent service. Subject: "God as 
Revealed in the Nineteenth Psalm." 

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firma- 
ment showeth his handiwork. 

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night 
showeth knowledge. 

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is 
not heard. 

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their 
words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tab- 
ernacle for the sun, 

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 
and rejoice th as a strong man to run a race. 

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his 
circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the 
heat thereof. 

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul : the 
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: 
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 

(78) 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 79 

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the 
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 

io More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much 
fine gold : sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 

ii Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keep- 
ing of them there is great reward. 

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from 
secret faults. 

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; 
let them not have dominion over me : then shall I be upright, 
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my 
heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my 
redeemer. 

(1) His glory in nature. (Verses 1-6.) 

(2) His glory in character. (Verses 7-14.) (a) 
He manifests himself in law, and in testimony, or 
teaching. (Verse 7.) Precepts (R. V.) and com- 
mandments. (Verse 8.) Fear — i e., feeling inspired 
by God and judgment. (Verse 9.) (b) Character of 
manifestation: Perfect and sure (verse 7); right and 
pure (verse 8) ; clean and true (verse 9). (c) What 
these do: Restore (R. V.) the soul, make wise the sim- 
ple (verse 7) ; rejoice the heart, enlighten the eyes 
(verse 8) ; endure forever, righteous altogether (verse 

9)- 

October 19. 

1 Present, 60. Good service. Subject: "Does Per- 
sonal Work for Souls Pay?" 
Scripture, John i. 35-46 : 

35 Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his 
disciples; 

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold^ 
the Lamb of God! 



80 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they fol- 
lowed Jesus. 

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith 
unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, 
(which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest 
thou? 

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and 
saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it 
was about the tenth hour. 

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed 
him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto 
him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, 
the Christ. 

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld 
him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona : thou shalt 
be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, 
and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and 
Peter. 

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have 
found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did 
write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing 
come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 

This subject was chosen in view of the fact that we 
were expecting revival services to begin in a week or 
two. Instead of discussing it myself, I invited short 
talks from several on the immediate thing that de- 
cided them for Christ. I have done this on several 
occasions, and have found that in nearly every in- 
stance the thing that finally decides people to come to 
Christ is not an eloquent sermon, but a simple per- 
sonal appeal from friend or relative, or some Chris- 
tian worker. 



six months of growth. 8l 

October 26. 

Present, 67. Good meeting. 

Subject: "Indebtedness of the Church in America 
to Revivals and Revivalists." The scripture read was 
Acts xi. 19-26: 

19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the per- 
secution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, 
and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but 
unto the Jews only. 

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, 
which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Gre- 
cians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great 
number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 

22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the 
Church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barna- 
bas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was 
glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they 
would cleave unto the Lord. 

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost 
and of faith : and much people was added unto the Lord. 

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul : 

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto An- 
tioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled 
themselves with the church, and taught much people. And 
the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

In view of the revival which was to begin in a few 
days, I had requested certain brethren to prepare and 
give us some account of Jonathan Edwards, Charles 
G. Finney, and Dwight L. Moody. Their talks were 
of much interest, and I followed with an earnest ex- 
hortation. 
6 



83 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

November 2. 

I was called out of the city, and the service was led 
by a superannuated preacher living in the bounds of 
the charge. 

November 9. 

By neglect of the sexton the house was cold, and the 
service had to be shortened to only a few minutes. 
People cannot worship God with pleasure to them- 
selves when they are cold, and it is very dangerous 
to sit in a room where the mercury is below sixty de- 
grees. It is better under such circumstances to dis- 
miss a congregation than to attempt to hold a service. 
On November 16, 23, and 30 the revival meetings were 
in progress. 

December 7. 

Present, 84. Weather, cold. 

This was the first prayer meeting after the revival, 
and it was turned into a testimony meeting, with fine 
results. 

December 14. 

On the preceding Sunday I announced that the next 
several prayer meetings would be given to a consid- 
eration of this general topic : "The Relation of Certain 
Natural, Necessary, and Innocent Enjoyments to Spir- 
itual Growth." 

Accordingly, the topic for this night was "Eating 
and Drinking," and the scripture first read was 1 
Corinthians ix. 25 : 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 83 

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is tem- 
perate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible 
crown; but we an incorruptible. 

Some are asking: "Can such a commonplace thing as 
eating and drinking have any bearing on spiritual life ?" 
Yes, all things have such a bearing, this subject per- 
haps more than some others. 

(1) The Bible opens with the account of the fall 
of the race through eating — spiritual death through 
the indulgence of a natural, necessary, and innocent 
desire to eat. If the oldest information we have about 
the race indicates weakness at this point, we should 
beware. The first and second chapters of Genesis 
mention eating more than twenty times. 

(2) What we eat becomes part of us, some making 
bone, some muscle, some blood, etc. Likewise, in some 
indefinable way, the soul is conformed to bodily meas- 
ures. 

(3) Eating and drinking is used nearly everywhere 
in Scripture to express a life that is forgetful of God. 

See the following: 

Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of 
violence to come near; that lie upon beds of ivory, and 
stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out 
of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 
that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves 
instruments of music, like David; that drink wine in bowls, 
and anoint themselves with the chief ointments : but they are 
not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. — Amos vi 3-6. 

And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weep- 
ing, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with 
sackcloth : and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and 
killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and 



84 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

drink; for to-morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in 
mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not 
be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. 
— Isaiah xxii. 12-14. 

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground 
of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully : and he thought 
within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no 
room where to bestow my fruits. And he said, This will I do : 
I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there 
will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say- 
to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. — Luke xii. 
16-19. 

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple 
and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. — Luke xvi. 19. 

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is 
written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up 
to play. — 1 Corinthians x. 7. 

(4) We should use care in eating, that the body 
with which we are to glorify God be not injured, and 
that our minds be not dulled from surfeiting. 

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts 
be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares 
of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. — 
Luke xxl. 34. 

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, 
do all to the glory of God. — 1 Corinthians x. 31. 

(5) There never was a time when the supply of 
food to all classes, at all seasons, was as generous as 
it is now; hence the more need to study this subject. 

(6) Manner and amount of eating: (a) Not be- 
fore the time — not irregularly; (b) not hastily and 
greedily; (c) not delicately or fastidiously — hard to 
please; (d) not too much, 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 85 

I illustrated the needed mastery of our appetite by 
the great Dr. Finsen, of Copenhagen, the discoverer 
of the light cure for cancer, who for twenty years 
had to weigh his food to an ounce in order to pre- 
serve his life. 

(7) Quality and nature of what we eat: (a) Not 
(but little, if at all) of rich and highly spiced foods and 
drinks; (b) not of that which is indigestible by us, 
however much we may like it or others can eat it. 

(8) Where and when we eat and drink: (a) Not 
at irregular or unreasonable hours; (b) not constantly 
at hotels or boarding houses, especially for families. 

This proved a very helpful and instructive theme; 
and while its bearing on spiritual growth is not direct, 
yet, being indirect, it is all the more necessary that 
young Christians be guarded against such an evil. 

December 21. 

Present, 72. Good weather. 

My plans for this evening were interfered with at 
the last moment. A blind young man, claiming to be 
a preacher and touring the country to get money to 
complete his studies, begged the privilege of leading 
the service — that is, of making the talk. I did not 
like to consent, but the fact that he was blind ap- 
pealed to me, and to refuse might have appeared as 
unkindness to a greatly afflicted man; and so, though 
I feared the service would be practically lost, I thought 
it better to err on the side of mercy, and gave way to 
him. The talk was fairly good, and being blind he 
attracted the attention of the people, so that on the 
whole there w r as perhaps not much loss. 



86 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

December 28. 

Present, 53. Christmas week. 

Subject: "Dress." This was the second of the 
series on "The Relation of Some Natural, Necessary, 
and Innocent Enjoyments to Spiritual Growth." 
Among others, the following scriptures were read : 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name 
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by 
him. — Colossians Hi. 17. 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; 
if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which 
God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through 
Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and 
ever. Amen. — 1 Peter iv. u. 

The basic idea in all these talks was that everything 
we do must be done to the glory of God. It was 
sought to be shown that this applied not only to a man 
himself; but, if he is the head of a family, to his 
family also. 

In considering dress we note: 

(1) Its three designs: (a) To secure decency — that 
is, modesty; (b) protection, or comfort; (c) orna- 
ment, or adornment. 

(2) In what way does it have any bearing on the 
spiritual life? (a) Dress should have regard to the 
canons of modesty, in not exposing the person, or 
wearing the garments of the opposite sex : 

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a 
man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all 
that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. — Deuter- 
onomy xxii. 5. 

(b) It should eschew that lightness and gaiety in dress 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 



g 7 



which is clearly worldly. As an illustration of the 
silliness of much worldly dressing, and as showing how 
hateful it is to God, the following was read : 

In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their 
tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and 
their round tires like the moon, the chains, and the bracelets, 
and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, 
and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, the 
rings, and nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and 
the mantels, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the 
glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. And 
it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall 
be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well- 
set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of 
sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. Thy men shall 
fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her 
gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall 
sit upon the ground. — Isaiah Hi. 18-26. 

(c) It should exhibit neatness, good taste, economy, 
and sobriety in keeping with the Christian spirit. This 
is in accord with apostolic injunction : 

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in mod- 
est apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with 
braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which 
becometh women professing godliness) with good works. — 1 
Timothy ii. 9, 10. 

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of 
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on 
of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in 
that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek 
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, 
who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection 
unto their own husbands. — 1 Peter Hi. 3-5. 



88 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

(d) It should not influence us in our attitude toward 
others in the matter of religion : 

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold 
ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man 
in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the 
gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place ; 
and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my 
footstool : are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are 
become judges of evil thoughts? — James ii. 2-4. 

These various points were illustrated by incidents in 
my ministry, and certain customs of society as to dress 
were sharply rebuked. The interest was considerable, 
and I felt that good had been done. 

January 4. 

Present, 52. Weather, very cold. Subject: "Con- 
versation." This was a continuance of the same gen- 
eral topic, as previously referred to. It was intro- 
duced by the following scriptures: 

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good 
things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart 
bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil 
treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That 
every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account 
thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou 
shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 
— Matthew xii. 34-37. 

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, 
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. — Co- 
lossians iv. 6. 

The following is a brief outline of the talk for the 
evening : 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 89 

(1) The word "conversation" is not used in the Bi- 
ble in its present sense, but rather as referring to the 
whole life. 

(2) Conversation both reflects and develops our in- 
ner nature. 

(3) It is largely a matter of will, and can generally 
be controlled by prayer and forethought. 

(4) The conversation to be specially guarded against 
is not that of business, but of times of relaxation, of 
social hours, and at table. The useless custom of 
"house parties" among young people, lasting days or 
even weeks, was used as an illustration of an excess 
of light, frivolous conversation that is almost neces- 
sarily damaging to the spiritual life. 

(5) We should seek always to converse with those 
who are w r ell informed and serious-minded. The case 
of Dr. John B. DeMotte, the renowned lecturer, was 
instanced. In his youth he was very reticent and giv- 
en to hard study. He avoided the light company of 
his neighborhood, and when he did talk it was to se- 
rious and well-informed persons. The young people 
said that he was egotistic, and they laughed at him. 
Now they are unknown, while he has a Continental 
reputation. 

(6) Christians should avoid much indulgence in 
lightness, and should introduce serious subjects. At- 
tention was called to the general lightness of social 
gatherings, especially of ladies, where for hours to- 
gether no serious word, either of knowledge or reli- 
gion, is spoken. 

(7) Conversation should not be very long. 

As an appropriate close to this talk,, I read extracts 



90 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

from Mr. Wesley's works, showing his views on con- 
versation. Especial attention was called to his state- 
ment that very few persons can converse profitably 
more than an hour. 

January h. 

Present, 40. Weather, extremely bad. In view of 
the conditions, the talk intended for this night was 
deferred. For a lesson Genesis xxxii. was read — the 
account of Jacob wrestling with the angel. Charles 
Wesley's incomparable hymn, "Wrestling Jacob/' was 
also read, and the service was a good one. 

January 18. 

Present, 90. Weather, good. 

Subject: "Sleep." This was a continuation of the 
same general theme before referred to — viz., "The 
Relation of Some Natural, Necessary, and Innocent 
Enjoyments to Spiritual Growth." 

To begin with, the following scriptures were read : 

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, 
lest I sleep the sleep of death. — Psalm xiii. 3. 

His watchmen are blind : they are all ignorant, they are all 
dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving 
to slumber. — Isaiah Ivi 10. 

(1) The need of. sleep — how much? (a) Children 
half the time; (&) adults one-third the time; (c) the 
very aged, little else but eat and sleep. 

(2) Neither body nor soul can go well on too little 
sleep, a fact not recognized by multiudes. (Eccl. viii. 

16.) 

(3) The spiritual life is damaged from insufficient 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 9! 

sleep, because of (a) nervousness; (b) lack of capac- 
ity for consecutive and concentrated thought; (c) 
irritability and general unpleasantness. 

Xot a few otherwise good people mortify their 
friends by an irritable disposition, which would largely 
disappear if they would take sufficient sleep. 

(4) An error of some is in sleeping too much: (a) 
It damages business : 

Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and 
as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou 
sluggard ; consider her ways, and be wise : which having no 
guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, 
and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou 
sleep, O sluggard ? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ? Yet 
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands 
to sleep : so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and 
thy want as an armed man. — Proverbs vi. 4-11. 

(b) Overindulgence in sleep renders our spiritual tone 
flabby and fiberless. (c) Read extracts from Wes- 
ley's works showing ill effects of too much sleep. 

January 25. 

I was out of the city. For the next two weeks 
revival services were in progress in the church. 

February 15. 

Present, 26. Weather, desperately bad. 

Subject : ''The Missionary Idea in the Hebrew Race." 

This study proved so interesting to me that it was 

afterwards elaborated into a sermon. The outline is 

too long for insertion here. 



92 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

February 22. 

Present, 61. Favorable weather, but much sick- 
ness in congregation. Subject: "The Book of Jonah 
and Its Missionary Lessons/' This also proved of 
much interest, at least to the pastor, and grew into a 
sermon. 

March i. 

Present, 85. Good weather. 

Instead of the regular prayer meeting, a Church 
Conference was held. 

March 8. 

The meeting was held by a local preacher, in the 
absence of the pastor. 

March 15. 

Present, 87. Excellent meeting. Subject: "Gems 
from Deuteronomy." I had 'frequently noticed in 
reading the book of Deuteronomy that it contained 
many of the most tender and beautiful statements of 
God to be found in the Bible. So with the double 
view of directing the attention of my people to this 
supposedly uninteresting book, and also to comfort 
their hearts with some of the tender words of the 
Lord, I read and commented on the following: 

And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that 
the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, 
in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. — 
Deuteronomy i. 31. 

In connection with the above was read: 



SIX MONTHS OF GROWTH. 93 

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort 
you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. — Isaiah Ixvi. 13. 

Then again : 

He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, 
and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. — 
Deuteronomy x. 18. 

Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto 
Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a bless- 
ing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. — Deuter- 
onomy xxiii. 5. 

That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou 
mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him : 
for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou 
mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy 
fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. — 
Deuteronomy xxx. 20. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach 
that thou must die. — Deuteronomy xxxi. 14. 

Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so 
shall thy strength be. — Deuteronomy xxxiii. 25. 

These are all beautiful and precious promises, and 
the last one can be understood to mean that just as 
our days of trial, days of temptation, days of work, 
days of hardship, or days of age and infirmity, so 
shall thy strength be. 

March 22. 

Present, 80. Good weather. 

Subject: "Paul's Thorn." (2 Cor. xii. 1-10.) This 
scripture is so familiar to all that it is not repeated 
here. My mind was drawn to a study of it by a per- 
sonal experience of a peculiar kind through which 
I was passing. 



94 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

In studying it the following is the general line pur- 
sued: 

(i) When was the wonderful revelation to which 
he referred received? It might have been received at 
one of three occasions: (a) At his conversion; (b) 
at his vision in the temple (Acts xxii. 17) ; (c) at his 
stoning at Lystra (Acts xiv. 19, 20). The revelation 
itself was certainly glorious, but to us it is purposely 
left vague. 

(2) What was the "thorn in the flesh ?" Four sug- 
gestions have been offered : (a) Ophthalmia, a disease 
of the eyes; (b) epilepsy; (c) malarial fever; (d) in- 
juries received at the time of his stoning. Whatever 
it was, he evidently thought that it would interfere 
with his activity and usefulness as a preacher, and 
hence his desire for its removal. 

(3) The divine object in allowing it to remain was 
to secure Paul's humility: (a) Humility, the most im- 
portant of graces; (b) spiritual pride very dangerous, 
and liable to the holiest. 

(4) His prayer for deliverance, and the Lord's re- 
ply. 

(5) His glorying in weaknesses, in injuries, etc. 
This service closed my third period of six months in 

this pastorate, during which the average attendance 
at prayer meeting had been seventy-one. For the next 
two prayer meetings I was away conducting revival 
services. 



XL 

CONTINUED GROWTH. 

I felt very much encouraged in entering upon the 
fourth period of six months. There had been steady 
growth in the other three periods, and I determined, if 
possible, to make this one the best of the four. 

April 12. 

Present, 65. Weather mild. 

Subject: "Unique and Helpful Sayings from Jere- 
miah." 

In a previous prayer meeting we had studied cer- 
tain tender passages from Deuteronomy. With that 
service I was so much pleased that I determined on a 
similar study of the book of Jeremiah. I wanted also 
that my people should see that there are many ex- 
quisitely beautiful statements of truth in a book that 
they had considered specially dull and hard to read. 

The divine watchfulness was shown in this : 

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an 
almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well 
seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. — Jeremiah i. 
II, 12. 

The effect of sin in making people so obdurate that 
they cannot blush at the commission of even the 
grossest sin is seen in this : 

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomina- 

(95) 



Cj6 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

tion? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they 
blush. — Jeremiah vi. 15. 

That sin will lead men to extremes beyond even the 
thought of God is seen in this : 

And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in 
the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their 
daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither 
came it into my heart. — Jeremiah vii. 31. 

That the very birds of heaven respond to God more 
than intelligent man, his child, is seen here : 

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; 
and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the 
time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment 
of the Lord. — Jeremiah viii. 7. 

The weakness of man and the ability and willing- 
ness of God to direct him are shown here : 

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is 
not in man that walketh to direct his steps. — Jeremiah x. 23. 

Sometimes a people may become so sinful as to be 
beyond the reach of interceding prayer. Witness the 
following : 

Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel 
stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this peo- 
ple: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. — 
Jeremiah xv. 1. 

Death comes to some at the least expected mo- 
ment: 

Her sun is gone down while it was yet day. — Jeremiah xv. p. 

The preciousness of God's word to the true Chris- 
tian is shown in this : 



CONTINUED GROWTH. 97 

Thy words were found, and / did eat them; and thy word 
was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am 
called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. — Jeremiah xv. 16. 

April 19. 

Present, 83. Good service. 

Subject: "Some Benefits of the Prayer Meeting." 
Scripture read, Acts iv. 23-35 •' 

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and 
reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto 
them. 

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice 
to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which 
hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in 
them is : 

25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why 
did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were 
gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou 
hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gen- 
tiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel deter- 
mined before to be done. 

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings : and grant 
unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy 
word, 

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs 
and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where 
they were assembled together; and they were all filled with 
the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with bold- 
ness. 

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one 
heart and of one soul : neither said any of them that aught 
of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had 
all things common. 

7 



98 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the 
resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon 
them all. 

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for 
as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, 
and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribu- 
tion was made unto every man according as he had need. 

( 1 ) It is a place for the free consideration by those 
of like mind of matters pertaining to the progress of 
the kingdom. (Verse 23.) 

(2) A place where each helps the other by united 
prayer. (Verse 24.) 

(3) A place where special prayer is made for the 
undergirding of the pastor with divine help. (Verse 
29.) 

(4) A place where the enduement or filling of the 
Holy Spirit comes in answer to prayer. (Verse 31.) 

(5) It results in giving the preacher great power 
in witnessing to the truth of the resurrection, or any 
other truth. (Verse 33.) 

(6) It produces the spirit of oneness and helpful- 
ness. (Verse 34.) 

April 26. 

Present, 87. Fine weather. 

In place of the customary prayer meeting, we had 
an address on a missionary topic by a neighboring pas- 
tor. This was one of three addresses on such topics 
on consecutive nights. 



continued growth. 99 

May 3. 
Present, 80. 

The pastor was absent, and the meeting was led by 
the Y. M. C. A. Secretary. 

May 11. 

Present, 125. 

By special appointment and announcement, a re- 
turned lady missionary addressed the audience. The 
congregation was partly made up from other Church- 
es; and so in making up the average for this six 
months I reckoned this evening at only ninety, believ- 
ing that that would have been the attendance of my 
own people on prayer meeting. 

About this time, feeling that my people needed to 
have their interest in the prayer meeting quickened, 
and desiring a full hearing on the things I wished to 
say, I had printed and distributed on the pews before 
Sunday a four-page folder. It was a neat and at- 
tractive folder. It never pays to advertise by slovenly 
printer's work. In addition, special attention was 
called to the folder from the pulpit. It was as fol- 
lows : 



IOO TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

(Page I.) 

A GOOD SUMMER RESORT. 

THE 

LECTURE ROOM 

OF THE 

STREET METHODIST CHURCH. 



Every Wednesday Evening, 
Eight O'clock. 

. (Page 2.) 
SKELETON PROGRAMS 

OF THE 

NEXT FOUR PRAYER MEETINGS. 

GENERAL TOPIC: "THE GOSPEL FOR THE 
HOUSEHOLD." 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17. 

subject: "how to have good servants." 

Scripture: Genesis xxiv. 

One or more numbers by the male quartet: A, C, J, K. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24. 

subject : "the daughter in the family." 

Scripture: Ruth i. 

After remarks by the pastor, some mothers pres- 
ent will express themselves as to how a mother can 
win her daughter's confidence, the character of read- 
ing a daughter should do, company she should 
keep etc 



CONTINUED GROWTH. IOI 

(Page 3.) 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31. 

subject: "a service of song THE old hymns 

OF OUR PARENTS." 

Scripture : Psalms cxxxvii. and cxlix. 
The old songs that our fathers and mothers used, 
some almost forgotten, will be either sung or read. 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7. 
subject: "some good books I have recently read/' 

Scripture : 1 Timothy iv. 6-16. 

Three-minute talks about good books recently read, 
by Mr. . 

(Here followed the names of eight or ten leading 
brethren and sisters.) 

(Page 4.) 
The following beautiful poem was written 
nearly three thousand years ago. It is con- 
tained in an old and much-neglected book, 
known as the Bible, and will be recognized by 
Bible readers as the one hundred and twenty- 
second Psalm: 

I was glad when they said unto me, 
Let us go unto the house of the Lord. 
Our feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem ; 
Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact 
together : 

Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, 
For a testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto 

the name of the Lord. 
For there are set thrones for judgment, 
The thrones of the house of David. 






102 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : 
They shall prosper that love thee. 
Peace be within thy walls, 
And prosperity within thy palaces. 

For my brethren and companions' sakes, 

I will now say, Peace be within thee. 

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God 

I will seek thy good. 

May 17. 

Present, 71. Good weather. 

Subject: "How to Have Good Servants." Scrip- 
ture, Genesis xxiv. 1-27. This passage shows the 
beautiful relations existing between Abraham and his 
servant Eliezer. It is too long for insertion here. 
The following is a brief outline of the talk on this 
occasion : 

Four things impress us in this account : 

(1) The superior position of Eliezer, implying his 
trustworthiness and Abraham's confidence in him— he 
"ruled over all he had." 

(2) This is further shown in that he intrusted him 
with the selection of a wife for his son. 

(3) Eliezer was a deeply religious man, as can be 
seen in several places in this chapter. 

(4) There was friendliness and dignity, but not 
familiarity on Abraham's part, and mutual confidence 
in their relations 

Rules for securing and keeping good servants : 
( 1 ) Give good wages and pay promptly. 

Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and 
needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that 
are in thy land within thy gates: at his day thou shalt give 



CONTINUED GROWTH. IO3 

him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he 
is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee 
unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. — Deuteronomy xxiv. 

14, i£ 

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: 
the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all 
night until the morning. — Leviticus xix. 13. 

(2) Do not require too much work of them; give 
them some time to rest. 

(3) Treat them with kindness, but not familiarity. 

(4) See that the children treat them kindly and 
respectfully, and not with rudeness. 

(5) Show interest in their religious welfare. 

May 24. 

Present, 81. Fine service. 

Scripture : Selections from the story of Ruth. Sub- 
ject: "Ruth's General Bearing." Illustrating the mod- 
el daughter and the wise mother. 

(1) There was affection and devotion: 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah 
kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. And 
she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her 
people, and unto her gods : return thou after thy sister-in- 
law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to 
return from following after thee: for whither thou goest I 
will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people 
shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, 
will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to 
me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. 
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with 
her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until 
they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were 
come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, 



104 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call 
me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt 
very bitterly with me. — Ruth i. 14-20. 

(2) She deferred to her mother's judgment in the 
matter of exposing herself outside the home : 

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now 
go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose 
sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my 
daughter. — Ruth ii. 2. 

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is 
good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that 
they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by 
the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest 
and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law. — 
Ruth ii. 22, 23. 

(3) She was modest and retiring: 

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, 
and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And 
she sat beside the reapers : and he reached her parched corn, 
and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. And when she 
was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, say- 
ing, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her 
not: and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for 
her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke 
her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out 
that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 
And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother- 
in-law saw what she had gleaned : and she brought forth, and 
gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. — 
Ruth ii. 14-18. 

(4) She wanted to help; she did the hard and hu- 
miliating work of gleaning. 

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go 
to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight 



CONTINUED GROWTH. I05 

I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 
— Ruth ii. 2. 

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that 
she had gleaned : and it was about an ephah of barley. — 
Ruth ii. 17. 

(5) Such a daughter is honored of both man and 
God: 

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it 
came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the 
city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 
— Ruth i. 19. 

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been 
showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law 
since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left 
thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and 
art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. — 
Ruth ii 11. 

And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that 
thou requirest; for all the city of my people doth know that 
thou art a virtuous woman. — Ruth Hi. 11. 

(6) Her mother was thoughtful of her in that 
which would constitute her daughter's highest happi- 
ness — marriage to the man she loved : 

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daugh- 
ter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with 
thee? — Ruth Hi. 1. 

(7) All Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law grew 
out of her love for the true God, which Orpah did not 
have: 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again : and Orpah 
kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she 
said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, 
and unto her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law. And 



2o6 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from 
following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and 
where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my 
people, and thy God my God; Where thou diest, will I die, 
and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more 
also, if aught but death part thee and me. — Ruth i 14-17. 

May 31. 

Present, 90. Specially good service. 

Subject: "A Service of Song — The Old Hymns of 
Our Grandparents." In the daily afternoon papers a 
full programme of this service was printed, and slips 
of this notice were distributed at the door as the peo- 
ple entered, and served as "programmes." These slips 
were as follows: 

The prayer meetings at the Methodist church for the 
month of May have been on the general topic of the "Gos- 
pel for the Household." They have grown very interesting. 
Wednesday night of this week will be given to a unique 
service of song, in which many old hymns, some of them 
long since forgotten, will be either sung or read. In addi- 
tion, Dr. Lloyd will exhibit some old hymn books never be- 
fore seen in this city. 

The following is the programme in full for Wednesday 
evening : 

1. Reading Psalm cxxxvii. 1-6. 

2. Singing — Hymn Book, 505. 

3. Prayer. 

4. Psalm cxlix. 1-6. Mr. . 

5. Singing — Hymn Book, 902. 

6. Prayer. 

y. Singing — Hymn Book, 917. 

8. Exhibition of old hymn books, including a facsimile re- 
print of the first Methodist hymn book ever printed, and also 
Mr. Wesley's hymn book, published one hundred and seven- 
teen years ago. 



CONTINUED GROWTH. I07 

9. Reading — "The Preacher's Farewell," from song book 
known as "Songs of Zion." 

10. Singing — Hymn Book, 839. 

11. Prayer. 

12. Singing — Hymn Book, 871. 

13. Reading of a fine old song, long since forgotten, known 
as "The Happy Sailor." 

14. Singing by Mr. N. B. , of No. 42 in "Select 

Melodies," and also No. 501 in "Songs of Zion." These are 
old songs once very popular, but entirely unknown to the 
present generation. 

15. Singing — No. 546 in Hymn Book, and concluding 
prayer. 

June 7. 

Present, 63. Good weather. 

A near-by church wedding hindered the attendance. 
Subject: "Some Good Books I Have Recently Read." 
Scripture, 1 Timothy iv. 12-16: 

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example 
of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, 
in faith, in purity. 

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, 
to doctrine. 

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given 
thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the 
presbytery. 

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to 
them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; con- 
tinue in them : for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, 
and them that hear thee. 

There were short talks by several touching good 
books they had recently read, but the service was not 
satisfactory. 



io8 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

June 14. 

Present, 58. Weather, very warm. 

This service followed immediately an Annual Meet- 
ing of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of 
the Conference. It closed just an hour or two before 
the prayer meeting was held ; and having been in ses- 
sion for several days, my people were very much worn, 
and not in good condition for attending prayer meet- 
ing. 

As appropriate to the occasion, this subject was 
chosen: "The Obligation of Prayer in Connection 
with Missions." 

( 1 ) For laborers — missionaries — and for the growth 
of the spirit of missions. 

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with com- 
passion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered 
abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto 
his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers 
are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he 
will send forth laborers into his harvest. — Matthew ix. 36-38. 

(2) For the missionaries themselves: 

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I 
may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of 
the gospel. — Ephesians vi. 19. 

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord 
may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with 
you : and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and 
wicked men: for all men have not faith. — 2 Thessalonians 
iii. 1, 2. 

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's 
sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together 
with me in your prayers to God for me. — Romans xv. 30. 

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the 



CONTINUED GROWTH. 109 

gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks 
may be given by many on our behalf. — 2 Corinthians i. 11. 

(3) For the heathen themselves: 

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which 
shall never hold their p :ace day nor night : ye that make 
mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no 
rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in 
the earth. — Isaiah Ixii. 6, 7. 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, 
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. — 
j Timothy ii. 1. 

June 21. 

Present, 60. Hot weather. 

The prayer meeting habits of the congregation had 
been seriously disarranged by the Woman's Foreign 
Missionary meeting held the week before. Scripture, 
2 Chronicles xv. 1-15 : 

1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of 
Oded: 

2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear 
ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with 
you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be 
found of you ; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. 

3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the 
true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 

4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord 
God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. 

5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went 
out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon 
all the inhabitants of the countries. 

6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city : 
for God did vex them with all adversity. 

7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: 
for your work shall be rewarded. 



HO TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of 
Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abom- 
inable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and 
out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, 
and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the 
porch of the Lord. 

9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the stran- 
gers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of 
Simeon : for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when 
they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 

10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in 
the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 

ii And they offered unto the Lord the same time, of the 
spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven 
thousand sheep. 

12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord 
God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their 
soul ; 

13 That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel 
should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man 
or woman. 

14 And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and 
with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 

15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn 
with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; 
and he was found of them : and the Lord gave them rest 
round about. 

The talk was mostly on the last four verses. 

June 28. 

Present, 93. Fine service. 

Subject: "Double-Mindedness ; or, The Danger of 
Unchristian Alliances." Scripture : 

And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house 
in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer 
went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should- 



CONTINUED GROWTH. 1 1 1 

est thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? 
therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Never- 
theless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast 
taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared 
thine heart to seek God. — 2 Chronicles xix. 1-3. 

And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join him- 
self with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 
and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to 
Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-gaber. Then 
Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against 
Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with 
Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships 
were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish. — 
2 Chronicles xx. 35-37. 

(1) Some account of Jehoshaphat's excellencies, also 
his foolish alliance with wicked Ahab, when he had 
no quarrel with the Syrians. 

(2) He returned in peace — that is, not wounded, 
and not pursued by the victorious Syrians. 

(3) Jehu's manliness in rebuking him. 

(4) God objects to alliances with the wicked be- 
cause: (a) It weakens us in our antagonism to sin; 
(b) it justifies wrongdoers in their course. 

(5) Three forms of alliances with those who hate 
God that Christians should avoid: (a) Business; (6) 
social; (c) matrimonial. Social life is all right when 
it is an incident of other meetings, but should be care- 

l fully scrutinized when we attend or give social func- 
tions for their own sake. 

(6) The form which the wrath of God took in 
Jehoshaphat's case: (a) Invasion of the land and ship- 
wreck of his fleet; (6) evil to his posterity 



112 two years in a growing prayer meeting. 

July 5. 

Present, 75. Weather, warm. 

Subject: "God's Three Cooperating Agencies in Re- 
ligious Enterprise." Scripture, Ezra v. 1-5: 

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah 
the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Ju- 
dah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even 
unto them. 

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua 
the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God 
which is at Jerusalem : and with them were the prophets of 
God helping them. 

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on 
this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, 
and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build 
this house, and to make up this wall? 

4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the 
names of the men that make this building? 

5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the 
Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter 
came to Darius : and then they returned answer by letter con- 
cerning this matter. 

The following points were treated: 

(1) Haggai and Zechariah, prophets, stirred up 
the people to rebuild the temple. So all religious en- 
terprise or progress has to be urged and carried for- 
ward by the preachers. This is what preachers are for, 
and people ought to demand just such preachers. 

(3) As Zechariah and Jeshua, leading laymen, took 
hold of the work, so now such laymen must be en- 
listed before much can be done. 

(3) There was opposition on the part of Tatnai and 
his secretary. So there are always those who oppose 



CONTINUED GROWTH. 1 13 

every forward movement. Sometimes this opposition 
comes from within the congregation. 

(4) They appealed to Darius, the Civil Governor 
of the State, and got protection. So religious enter- 
prise needs the strong arm of the State to give it 
security and peace. Illustrated by present condition 
of France, where Protestantism has no protection from 
the State. 

For the next four weeks I was away, partly resting 
and partly conducting revival services. 

August 9. 

Present, 60. Profitable service. 
Subject: "J esus Mastering a Great Difficulty 
through Prayer." Scripture, John xi. 33-42: 

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews 
also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, 
and was troubled, 

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto 
him, Lord, come and see. 

35 Jesus wept. 

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 

37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which 
opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man 
should not have died? 

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the 
grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sis- 
ter of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time 
he stinketh : for he hath been dead four days. 

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou 
wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where 
the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, 
Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me, 

8 



114 TW0 YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always : but because 
of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe 
that thou hast sent me. 

The object of the talk was to show that even Jesus, 
when confronted with the necessity for a great work, 
could not accomplish it without recourse to prayer. In 
this case, on his way to the grave he "groaned in 
spirit" — that is, he prayed mightily, but the only out- 
ward sign was his groaning. When he reached the 
grave he seemed to pause, and again he "groaned" the 
unutterable prayer. Having doubtless the inward as- 
surance that his prayer was heard, he commanded that 
they take away the stone. After some little parley, 
this was done. Then Jesus openly returned thanks 
to his Father for the answer that he was assured he 
already had to his prayer expressed in "groaning," and 
which answer the people realized a moment later when 
they saw Lazarus come forth from the tomb. 

August 16. 

Present, j6, Fine service. 
Scripture, Hebrews xii. 4-13 : 

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh 
unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the 
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked 
of him : 

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth 
every son whom he receiveth. 

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with 
sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? 

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are par- 
takers, then are ye bastards, and not sons, 



CONTINUED GROWTH. Il5 

9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which 
corrected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we not 
much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and 
live ? 

io For they verily for a few days chastened us after their 
own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be par- 
takers of his holiness. 

ii Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be 
joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the 
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exer- 
cised thereby. 

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the 
feeble knees; 

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which 
is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

The burden of the talk was on the fact and certainty 
of God's chastening his children, and the spirit in 
which it should be received. Attention was called to 
the exquisitely beautiful thought of the writer, that 
absence of chastisement is a proof of illegitimacy, 
while chastisement proves sonship. The "bastard," or 
illegitimate, boy roams the street day and night, a 
terror to all, unchastised and therefore uncorrected, 
because forsooth to chastise him would be to assume 
responsibility of fatherhood to him, seeing that none 
but a father has the right to chastise. It follows that 
to be without chastisement is to prove that we are not 
true sons of God. 

August 23. 

Present, 89. Excellent service. 
Subject: "Blessings Cursed." Scripture, Malachi 
ii. 1, 2 : 

1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 



1 16 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, 
to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will 
even send a curse upon you, and / will curse your blessings: 
yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to 
heart. 

The complaint here is against the priests primarily, 
but really against all. Some things they did not "lay 
to heart" and glorify God for. For this failure he 
threatens to "curse their blessings." 

I. 

Our Chief Blessings. 

(i) A well-formed and healthy body, and a sound 
mind. 

(2) Enough income to provide the necessities of 
life, with some of its comforts, and perhaps a little to 
lay up for a rainy day. 

(3) Social, educational, and religious advantages, 
etc. 

II. 
How We Fail to "Lay Them to Heart." 

(1) When we are puffed up, and do not recognize 
their source. 

(2) When we are not duly humble and properly 
thankful for them. 

(3) When we do not use them chiefly for our own 
spiritual good, and for others as well. 

III. 
How They Become Curses. 

(1) As to our bodies, we pander to our appetites 
till they master us, and we yield to low and sensual 



CONTINUED GkOWTH . 1 1 7 

things instead of rising to the nobler. Instance, the 
rich fool. Also, a boy I once knew who debased his 
splendid body by cigarette-smoking until he was a 
nervous and mental wreck, and would pawn his clothes 
and steal to get money for cigarettes. 

(2) Yielding to love of possessions, we become self- 
ish, sordid, grasping, lose fine moral distinctions, and 
come to be execrated of men — thus our "blessings are 
cursed." Examples: Iscariot, Rockefeller, 

(3) By failing to use aright our social, educational, 
and religious advantages our spiritual nature is 
dwarfed, devotion becomes a form, joy disappears, and 
those around us, being of the same type, are powerless 
to help us. 

August 30. 

Present, 63. Good service. 

Subject : "Turning a Curse into a Blessing." Scrip- 
ture, Deuteronomy xxiii. 3-5 : 

3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the con- 
gregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall 
they not enter into the congregation of the Lord forever : 

4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in 
the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they 
hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of 
Mesopotamia, to curse thee. 

5 Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto 
Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a bless- 
ing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. 

See also Nehemiah xiii. 1, 2. 

The subject for the previous week, "Blessings 
Turned into a Curse," led me to speak of the opposite, 
a curse turned into a blessing. 



II 8 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

I. 

What Is a Curse? 

(i) A malediction by bad men or devils. Balaam 
cursing Israel. The devil afflicting Job. 

(2) Disappointment of plans, so that poverty, par- 
tial or complete, results. 

(3) Afflictions in the form of injured or diseased 
bodies, or in the loss of loved ones. 

(4) The curse of God, due to persistent sin or folly, 
as in Esau's case. 

II. 
How a Curse Can Be Turned into a Blessing. 

(1) God only can make such a transformation. 

(2) As to maledictions, he goes before and pre- 
vents. Balaam could not curse. 

(3) In some sense such a transformation is effected 
by what are called natural means, notably through the 
imagination. The crippled boy and the maimed sol- 
dier can neither one walk, but the one in imagination 
chases birds and outruns butterflies, while the other 
enlivens his gloomy moments by painting the victories 
he could win if he had a leg instead of a crutch. 

(4) Curses are turned into blessings by cheerful 
resignation to the divine will. Instance, Joseph, Job. 

(5) In many instances curses become blessings by 
working all we can for ourselves and others. Helen 
Keller's case is a striking illustration of the turning of 
the most awful curse into a blessing. Her own life is 
not only cheerful, but her example of work under the 
most conceivable disadvantages has inspired many an- 
other to effort. In a recent article she uttered this 



CONTINUED GROWTH. I19 

fine sentence: "There is no one so imprisoned or 
maimed that God has not a bit of work somewhere 
for that soul to do." 

(6) God turns our curses into blessings by making 
them the means to higher things. Fanny Crosby, the 
blind hymn writer, and Beethoven, the deaf musician, 
doubtless achieved their high positions of honor, 
usefulness, and enjoyment largely because they were 
shut off from the outer world. 

September 6. 
The pastor was out of the city. This and the three 
succeeding prayer meetings were damaged in attend- 
ance by reason of a great semiunion revival meeting 
held under a tent and conducted by a noted evan- 
gelist. 

September 14. 
Subject: "Jehovah's Blessing Maketh Rich." 
Scripture, Proverbs x. 22\ 

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth 
no sorrow with it. 

The subject of "blessing" became so fixed upon my 
mind that I decided to continue its study for another 
service. 

(1) "Rich" is a relative term implying possessions, 
money, or the having of those comforts and enjoy- 
ments that "riches" are supposed to command. 

(2) "Riches," as ordinarily acquired, or even if 
inherited, usually have a sting, or some "sorrow" ac- 
companying them. 

(3) The text declares that the "blessing of God 
maketh rich" — that is, secures to us the blessings that 



120 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 

money is supposed to confer, and yet leaves no sting 
or "sorrow" behind. 

(4) This blessing of Jehovah is: (a) Salvation, 
which makes one "rich" indeed. (&) It is the natural 
blessing of contentment, fostered by grace. Not the 
contentment of laziness, but the contentment of simple 
desires, with relief from consuming ambitions, (c) 
Trustfulness — that is, confidence in God, and quiet 
waiting on him. (d) A gentle manner and spirit, sanc- 
tified by grace, is an inestimable blessing from God. 

Illustrated by the story of Rev. Mr. C , who, 

though poor, yet by the "blessing" of God was given 
by a rich parishioner a trip to Europe and the Holy 
Land, thus securing to him the comfort that money 
affords, and that without even the "sorrow" of taking 
care for the money. 

September 20. 
Subject: "Praying in the Spirit." Scripture read: 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we 
know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the 
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which 
cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth 
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh inter- 
cession for the saints according to the will of God. — Romans 
viii. 26, 27. 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which 
God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath 
revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth 
all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man know- 
eth the things of a man, save the Spirit of man, which is in 
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the 
Spirit of God. — 1 Corinthians ii. 9- 11. 



CONTINUED GROWTH. 121 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and sup- 
plication for all saints : and for me, that utterance may be 
given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make 
known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an am- 
bassador in bonds : that therein I may speak boldly, as I 
ought to speak. — Ephesians vi. 18-20. 

Four kinds of prayers were mentioned : 

( 1 ) The prayer offered by the man who is in trouble 
— who is driven to prayer because of threatened dan- 
ger. 

(2) The formal prayer, either read or repeated. 

(3) The ordinary prayer in public, either family or 
private, which may be more or less earnest. 

(4) The prayer in the Spirit. This sort of praying 
we are led to offer by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it 
is only expressed in sighs and groans, at other times 
it is more formal and particular, and is generally ac- 
companied by a strong persuasion that the answer 
is certain. Indeed, the fact that we are moved to pray 
by the Spirit is a sort of assurance beforehand that 
our petition will be granted, for "he maketh interces- 
sion for [or through] the saints, according to the will 
of God." 

During this term of six months I was present at 
nineteen prayer meetings. The last two, however, 
were during the revival meetings under the tent be- 
fore referred to, which so cut down the regular prayer 
meeting congregation that these two are not taken into 
consideration in making up the average. For the oth- 
er seventeen nights the average attendance was 75. 
It had steadily risen during each period of six months 



122 TWO YEARS IN A GROWING PRAYER MEETING. 



— 50 — 67 — 71 — 75. How much my methods and the 
subjects discussed had to do with this steady increase, 
I am unable to say. If there is any good in them, I 
offer praise to God. If any brother receives from this 
little book a suggestion that wi 1 l help him, that will be 
additional cause for thanksgiving. 



OCT 



14 I* 1 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: August 2005 

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